MEMOIRS 



OF THE 

REV. JOHN H. LIVINGSTON, 

D.D.S.T.P. 

PREPARED IN COMPLIANCE WITH 

i, 

A BEQUEST OF THE GENERALr SYNOB 

OF THE 

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA 

BY 

ALEXANDER GUNJS, 

PASTOR OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH AT BIOOMINGDALE, IN Ifii 
CITY, OF NEW YORE= 

RUTGERS PRESS, NEW-fORI ; 
WILLIAM A. MERCELN, PRINTER, 



Southern District of New Yorlc, ss. 

HE IT REMEMBERED. Th.it on the eleventh day of May, A. D. 1829, in the fifty third 
Veil oftbii Independence of (he United States of America, Alexander Gunn, of the said district, 
bat deposited in this oftice the title of a Book, the light whereof he claims as Author and 
Proprietor, in the words following, to wit *. 

"Memoirs of the Rev. John II. Livingston, D. D. S.T. P. prepared in compliance with a 
request of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America, hy Alexander 
Gunn, Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Dlooiniugdale, in the City of New York." 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United Stales, entitled, "An Act for the 
encouragement of Learning, hy securing the conies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and 
proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned;" and also to an Act, entitled 
"an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled, an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by 
Securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, 
during the times therein mentioned) and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, 
engraving and etching historical and other prints." 

FREDERICK J. BETTS, Clerk of the Southern District of New York, 



A Copy of the Official Communication of the 
Stated Clerk of General Synod to the Author, 

«Flatbnsh,Jimel4tth 1828.'* 

« Rev. A. Gunn D. D. 

Rev. and Dear Sir, 

I have the honour and happiness to transmit 
to you the following resolutions adopted by the General Synod 
of the Reformed Dutch Church, at their sessions in Albany, during 
the present month. 

Your's, in the bonds of the^Gospel, 

THOMAS M. STRONG." 

" Resolved, That the Committee appointed in 1826, to procure 
materials for a Memoir of the late Reverend and venerable John 
H. Livingston, D. D. S. T. P. and engage a person to write it, 
be discharged from the farther consideration of the subject, and 
be requested to put any materials collected by them, into the hands 
of such person as General Synod shall appoint to prepare such 
Memoir. 5, 

" Resolved, that the Rev. Alexander Gunn, D.D. be, and hereby 
is appointed, and requested to write and publish such a Memoir 
as was contemplated by the Resolution of General Synod, in the 
session of 1826. 

" Resolved, that the Rev. Drs. Knox and McMurray, with'the 
Rev. C, C. Cuyler, be a Committee to inspect the work, previous 
to publication, and fix the amount of compensation to Dr. Gunn ? 
©ut of the profits arising from the sale of the work." 

A true Extract from the Minutes of General Synod, 

THOMAS M. STRONG, Stated Clerk" 



$ Copy of the Opinion expressed by the Committee 
oj General Synod, after Inspecting the Manuscript 
of the Memoir, 

" The undersigned, having at the request of the author, and in 
compliance with the object of their appointment, as a Committee 
of Synod, carefully perused the manuscript Memoir of the late 
Professor Livingston, prepared by the Rev. Dr. Gunn ; have much 
pleasure in bearing their decided testimony to the able manner in 
which the task has been accomplished. With much well directed 
labour, and in a manner that will not fail to prove gratifying to 
the church, the author has reduced to order a large amount of 
interesting and important matter." 

?< The volume now about to be presented to the Public, con- 
tains, it is believed, a faithful picture of the revered individual, 
whose eventful life it portrays ; and at the same time exhibits all 
the most prominent features of the history of the Reformed Dutch 
Church in this country ; together with valuable passing notices of 
many of her most distinguished sons, who have from time to time 
entered into rest." 

" The work, we doubt not, will be perused with interest ; and 
regarded as an important addition to the biography of those whose 
Sl memory is blessed. 1 ' With prayer for its usefulness, we do 
hereby cordially recommend it to the patronage of the christian 
community s and especially of every Minister, Consistory, and 
Member of the Reformed Dutch Church." 



JOHN KNOX, 
WM. McMTJRRAY, 
C. C. CUYLER, 



Committee oj' 
General Synod. 



Nev> York, 1st April, 1829, 



TO THE GENERAL SYNOD 



OP THE 

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Reverend Fathers and Brethren, 

Of the profound respect entertained by you for 
the talents and piety of our late venerable Friend 
and Father, and of your grateful sense of his many 
eminent services to our beloved Church — the soli- 
citude you have expressed, to have prepared and 
published a true and full account of his Life and 
Character, affords sufficient evidence. 

It was, indeed, due to his precious memory, that 
the Church, whose ministry he so long adorned as 
a star of the first magnitude, and to the promotion 
of whose best interests, from the dawn of celestial 
light in his soul, until his lamented decease— em- 
bracing a period of more than half a century — he 
was so warmly, unremittingly, and successfully de- 



6 



voted, should be furnished with such an account ; 
and your anxiety, as a Body representing the whole 
church, to provide, by an express synodical act, 
for perpetuating in this manner the remembrance 
of his name, evinces a feeling of pious gratitude, 
an ingenuous respect for departed merit — a mag- 
nanimity worthy of all commendation. The Chris- 
tian Public will no doubt view it in this light, and 
approve it. 

For the honour you were pleased to confer upon 
me, in committing to my hands the preparation of 
the Biography, I beg leave to tender you my cordial 
thanks. Without any affectation of modesty, I can 
say, that I distrusted my own powers to execute 
to your satisfaction the work assigned me ; and for 
some time, feared to undertake it. I felt, however, 
that as the appointment had been altogether un- 
sought — nay, had been made without the most re- 
mote suspicion on my part, that it was even in 
contemplation, I ought not hastily and peremptorily 
to decline it. And, when I reflected that your 
request remarkably coincided with a similar one, 
with which the venerable man saw fit personally to 
honour me, in a private interview with him some 



7 



years ago — a coincidence perfectly undesigned on 
your part, as you knew nothing of the request 
alluded to— the call of Providence in the case 
appeared too strong I confess, notwithstanding my 
fears as to my competency, to be disobeyed. Un- 
der the conviction of duty thus produced — encour- 
aged, at the same time, by brethren for whom I 
entertain a high respect— and hoping too that the 
study of so excellent a character might prove, in 
no small degree, beneficial to my own soul, I was 
induced, at length, to venture on the undertaking. 

I regret that my efforts to obtain materials for 
the work have not been more successful ; but still, 
those supplied by a number of individuals, are con- 
siderable in the aggregate, and many of them, of an 
important and interesting character. And, I would 
here gratefully acknowledge the kindness in par- 
ticular, of Col. Henry A. Livingston, the Doctors 5 
son, of Poughkeepsie ; of Isaac L. Kip, Esq. of the 
City of New York ; of Dr. John B. Beck, of the 
same city, and of his brother Dr. Theodorick R. 
Beck, of the city of Albany,— grandsons of the late 
Rev. Dr. Theodorick Romeyn, of Schenectady, 
who was, for many years, the intimate friend and 



g 



constant correspondent of Dr. Livingston* These 
gentlemen very promptly and politely furnished 
me with such papers, in their possession respec- 
tively, as were calculated to be of any service. 
Among those sent by the first named gentleman, 
was found a manuscript memoir of his father, of 
about fifty or sixty pages letter paper, which the 
Doctor had written a few years before he died, and 
relating chiefly to the earlier part of his life. 
This proved of essential service, and long extracts 
from it are presented in the following sketch. 

It is well known, that his connexion with the 
Dutch Church, from his youth, was such, that a 
full memoir of his life must necessarily embrace a 
large portion of the history of the Church : and I 
freely own that when I commenced the work, it 
was my particular wish, if it could be done without 
destroying its Biographical character, to incorpo- 
rate with it, a concise and connected account of the 
Church from its rise, until the present time. Upon 
reflection, this account seemed indispensable to 
give a fair and intelligible view of some matters, in 
which the Doctor deeply interested himself as soon 
as he entered upon the study of Theology : and 



9 



throughout, I have allowed myself no farther scope, 
nor have I dilated, upon general facts, any farther 
than appeared requisite to a proper illustration of 
the events of his life. In the introduction of matter 
of this description, relative to one or two periods, 
I was under the necessity of availing myself, to 
some extent, of private correspondence ; but for 
having done so, it is presumed, no other apology 
need be pleaded, 

The letters which were written by the Doctor 
upon important ecclesiastical measures, particu- 
larly those of a late date, are given, not so much to 
complete the narrative, as to show how far he was 
active, and the motives that regulated his conduct. 
And it was judged indeed, that his excellence both 
in private and public life — that his character as a 
Christian minister, as a husband, father, friend- 
would be better estimated from his unreserved com- 
munications to intimate friends, than from a bare 
historical statement of facts. 

Numerous other letters, upon a variety of sub* 
jects, might have been added, but it was supposed 
that an appendix, containing them, would increase 



10 



the present volume to an immoderate size. If what 
is now submitted shall be esteemed of any value 
as a Biography of our departed Friend, and as a 
History of the Church ; if the portrait it presents 
of the venerable man, shall be viewed as upon the 
whole, a good likeness ; and if what has been related 
therein of his virtues and services, shall be produc- 
tive of any good, or shall contribute, in any degree, 
to the cultivation of genuine piety, and excite a 
more active zeal in the promotion of the best in- 
terests of our beloved Zion, I shall feel that I have 
not laboured in vain. 

The representation I have given of his worth 
will not appear at all extravagant to you, who knew 
him, and loved him : and to those, who were not 
personally acquainted with him, I flatter myself, that 
the opinions of eminent divines, out of the connex- 
ion with which I have been favoured, and which 
will be seen in their place, will show satisfactorily 
that that worth has not been too highly estimated. 

Having made these introductory remarks, the 
work is now offered to the indulgence of the Christ- 
ian reader 



1 L 



And, TO YOU, REV. FATHERS AND BRETHREN, at 

whose request it has been prepared, I beg per- 
mission, with all due respect, to inscribe it, — adding 
my fervent prayer, that the great head of the 
church, will render it subservient to the advance- 
ment of his kingdom, and that he will fill You " with 
all the fulness of God." 

Your friend and fellow -labourer 

in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 

ALEXANDER GUNN, 
Miv York March 25, 1829, 



MEMOIRS, 



CHAPTER I. 

CONTAINING A SHORT ACCOUNT OF HIS ANCESTRY. 

The real genuine worth of any one can be truly 
estimated only by the amount of moral and religious 
excellence which he actually possesses. Grace, — 
in its benign influence upon the heart and life, in 
the implantation and growth of dispositions and 
habits that elevate the soul above the empty, eva- 
nescent things of time and sense, and prepare it for 
the enjoyment of perfect blessedness hereafter- 
sheds a glory over the path of a child of God, which 
perfectly eclipses the feeble lustre of any adventi- 
tious, earthly distinction he may happen to have. 
He may have, and deservedly, the reputation of 
being an able jurist, an eloquent divine, a brave 
and skilful captain,— or he may be allied, by birth, 
to. rank and fortune ; but whatever his real or sup- 
posed merits in these respects, if it be known that 
he walks humbly with God — that he is a sincere, 
conscientious, zealous follower of Christ— This 
constitutes the dhief excellence of his character ; in 



14 



ANCESTRY. 



comparison with which, that importance some at- 
tach, or affect to attach, to the mere appendages 
of worldly greatness, dwindles into insignificance, 
and is scarce worthy of notice. 

In attempting, therefore, to give the biography, 
of a good man, it is a matter of very small mo- 
ment to be able to trace his pedigree to what some 
esteem a great or illustrious ancestry. Every pi- 
ous and judicious reader will regard the account 
as of little importance in itself considered, or as 
imparting little additional interest to the narrative. 

Yet, it must be acknowledged that, in innume- 
rable instances an honourable family connexion, 
though contributing nothing essentially to indivi- 
dual worth, is a worldly blessing, which, among 
other good things, the faith and holiness of some 
ancestor, near or remote, have secured to his off- 
spring. And this being the fact, every proba- 
ble instance of the kind ought to be exhibited, 
as a proof of the faithfulness of God in fulfil- 
ling, long after their decease, promises which he 
had made to his children, to encourage the godly 
and to induce others to choose Him for their portion 
that keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love 
Him, and keep His commandments to a thousand 
generations. Blessed is the man that feareth the 
Lord, that delight eth greatly in His commandments ; 
his seed shall be mighty upon earth : the generation 
of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches 



ANCESTR1 . 



15 



shall be in his house ; and his righteousness endureth 
forever," 

Few families, perhaps, of much reputation hi 
society, cannot number among their several pro- 
genitors some, who, in their day, were eminent for 
piety : and there can be no question, but that for 
present influence and prosperity in the world, the 
children are indebted to the interest their fathers 
had in the divine promise, rather than, in the ab- 
sence of personal religion, to any peculiar skill and 
enterprise of then own. 

Parents, in a sense, live in their children : When 
God beholds the children of such as were pious, he 
remembers the parents and his covenant with them. 
I will be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee ; 
and the children are beloved and blessed for their 
fathers sakes — that is, in honour and affluence, are 
made considerable among then 1 fellow men, and 
often, in the dispensations of divine mercy, enrich- 
ed with the more precious blessings that pertain to 
salvation. 

On the other hand, the seed of evil doers, as it is 
declared, shall never be renowned^— or rather as 
some read it, shall not be renowned forever — that 



*Ps. csii. 2. 3. 



f Isa, xiv. 20. 



16 



ANCESTRY. 



is, however big they may look for a season, and 
however they may strut in the fulness of their pride 
and vaunt of their descent, all their pomp and fan- 
cied greatness, like the morning cloud and the early 
dew, shall speedily pass away. For the Lord loveth 
judgement, and forsaketh not his saints : they are 
preserved for ever ; but the seed of the wicked shall 
be cut off.* 

The preceding remarks are fully verified by 
the ordinary economy of divine providence. 

The great, great grandfather of the venerable 
subject of this Memoir, and the common ancestor 
of the Livingston family in this country, was the 
eminently pious and celebrated minister of the gos- 
pel, Mr. John Livingston, of Scotland.! 



* Ps. xxxvii. 28. 

f The family, from which this devoted servant of Christ was 
descended, is honourably noticed in Scottish history. From a 
genealogical tree, which the writer has seen, it would appear, that 
his father and grandfather were successively ministers of the 
parish where he was born, and that his great, great grandfather 
was Lord Livingston, afterwards Earl of Linlithgow. This noble- 
man, as history states, had, with Lord Erskine in 1547, the care 
of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the Castle of Dumbarton, where, at 
the invasion of Scotland by the Duke of Somerset, she was placed 
for safe keeping, and whence, not long after, she was conveyed 
to France, and delivered to her uncles, the princes of Lorrain. 



ANCESTRY. 



17 



As the name of this worthy clergyman occupies 
a prominent place in the ecclesiastical histories of 
his time, and as the exile to which he was compel- 
led to submit, for his zeal in the cause of truth and 
religion, will account probably for the subsequent 
connexion of many of his descendants with the Dutch 
Church, a brief sketch of his life seems to be pro- 
per in this place, and though given, for the most 
part, in his own plain language, will not, it is hoped, 
prove altogether uninteresting to the reader. 

He was born in Monyabroch, in Stklingshire, 
June 21, 1603. " I observed," he says, in a narra- 
tive of his life, written by himself, " the Lord's 
great goodness, that I was born of such parents, 
who taught me somewhat of God, so soon as I was 
capable to understand any thing : — I had great 



Mary Livingston, a daughter of the lord, was one of the four 
Maries that accompanied the Queen to France, as her compa- 
nions. Linlithgow is the chief town of West Lothian, and distant 
from Edinburgh sixteen miles. " The family of Livingston, who 
take the title of earl from this place, are hereditary keepers of this 
palace" (the palace, in which the unfortunate Mary Stuart first 
saw light,) " as also bailiffs of the king's bailifry and constables 
of Blackness castle. — Sir James Livingston, son of the first earl 
by marriage with a daughter of Callendar, was created earl of 
Callendar, by Charles I. 1641, which title sunk into the other." 

Encyclopedia Brit, 

3 



ANCESTRY, 



cares about my salvation, when I was but yet very 
young : I had the advantage of the acquaintance 
and example of many gracious Christians, who 
used to resort to my father's house, especially at 
communion occasions.— I do not remember the 
time or means particularly, whereby the Lord at 
first wrought upon my heart. When I was but 
very young, I would sometimes pray with some 
feeling, and read the word with delight; but thereaf- 
ter dichoften intermit any such exercise ; — I would 
have some challenges and begin, and again inter* 
mit. I remember the first time that ever I com- 
municated at the Lord's table was in Stirling, 
when I was at school, where sitting at the table, and 
Mr. Patrick Simpson exhorting before the distri- 
bution, there came such a trembling upon me that 
all my body shook, yet thereafter the fear and trem* 
bling departed, and I got some comfort and assur- 
ance. I had no inclination to the ministry, till a 
year or more after I had passed my course in the 
college ; and that, upon this occasion, I had a bent 
desire to give myself to the knowledge and prac- 
tice of medicine, and was very earnest to go to 
France, for that purpose, and propounded it to my 
father, that I might obtain his consent, but he refus- 
ed the same. Also, about the same time, my fa- 
ther having before purchased some land in the pa- 
rish of Monyabroch, the rights whereof were taken 



ANCESTRY. 



L9 



in my name, and that land by ill neighbours being 
in a manner laid waste, and Sir William Livingston 
of Kilsyth, one of the lords of session, being very 
desirous to buy thatland, that he might build a burgh 
of barony upon it at Burnside, my father propound- 
ed that I should go and dwell on that land and 
marry : but finding that that course would divert 
me from all study of learning, I refused that offer, 
and rather agreed to the selling of it, although I was 
not yet major to ratify the sale . Now, being in these 
straits, I resolved that I would spend a day alone 
before God, and knowing of a secret cave on the 
south side of Mouse water, a little above the house 
of Jervis wood, over against Cleghorn wood, I went 
thither, and after many to's and fro's, and much 
confusion, and fear about the state of my soul, I 
thought it was made out unto me, that I behooved 
to preach Christ Jesus, which if I did not, I should 
have no assurance of salvation. Upon this, I laid 
aside all thoughts of France, and medicine, and 
land, and betook me to the study of Divinity." * 

He preached his first sermon January 2, 1625, 
when about the age of twenty-two. The succeed- 
ing five years were spent partly in the diligent 



* Gillies' Hist. Col. page 277, 278. 



20 



ANCESTRY. 



pursuit of his theological studies at home, in his 
father's house, and partly, in visiting different 
places, preaching occasionally, and cultivating an 
acquaintance with some of the most eminent minis- 
ters and professors of the Church of Scotland. In 
the course of this period, he received a number of 
calls from vacant congregations ; but the opposi- 
tion of those in power, and other difficulties that 
occurred, prevented his assuming the pastoral 
office. 

June, 1630, Mr. Livingston was present at the 
celebration of the Lord's Supper in a certain place. 
Being yet merely a licentiate, he, of course, took 
no part in its appropriate services ; but the next 
day, the congregation still remaining, and express- 
ing a desire for some additional service, he was 
prevailed upon to preach. 

The occasion was one of more than ordinary 
interest and solemnity ; the circumstances under 
which he was constrained to preach were some- 
what remarkable ; and the happy fruits of the 
spirit which accompanied and followed the sermon 
were truly astonishing. Rarely, perhaps, has any 
single sermon been attended with such memorable 
and glorious results, since the days of the apostles. 



ANCESTRY. 



21 



A respectable writer gives the following ac- 
count of the occasion and the sermon.* 

" As the kirk of Shotts lies on the road from 
the west to Edinburgh, and is at a good distance 
from any convenient place of entertainment, some 
ladies of rank, who had occasion to pass that way, 
met, at different times, with civilities, from the min- 
ister f at his house, which was then situate where 
the public inn is now. Particularly once, when 
through some misfortune befalling their coach or 
chariot, they were obliged to pass a night in the 
minister's house ; they observed, that besides its 
incommodious situation, it much needed to be re- 
paired. They, therefore, used their interest to get 
a more convenient house built for the minister in 
another place." 

" After receiving so substantial favours, the min- 
ister waited on the ladies, and expressed his desire 
to know if any thing was in his power, that might 
testify his gratitude to them. They answered it 
would be very obliging to them, if he would invite, 
to assist at his communion, certain ministers whom 
they named, who were eminently instrumental in 
promoting practical religion. The report of this 



* Gillies. 



t Mr. John Hance. 



ANCESTRY. 



spreading far and near, multitudes of persons of 
different ranks attended there, so that for several 
days before the sacrament there was much time 
spent in social prayer." 

" It was not usual, it seems, in those times, to 
have any sermon on the Monday after dispensing 
the Lord's Supper. But God had given so much 
of his gracious presence, and afforded his people 
so much communion with himself, on the foregoing 
days of that solemnity, that they knew not how to 
part without thanksgiving and praise. There had 
been, as was said before, a vast confluence of choice 
Christians, with several eminent ministers, from 
almost all the corners of the land, that had been 
many of them there together, for several days before 
the sacrament, hearing sermon, and joining together 
in larger or lesser companies, in prayer, praise, and 
spiritual conferences. While their hearts were 
warm with the love of God, some expressing their 
desire of a sermon on the Monday were joined 
by others, and in a little the desire became very 
general. 

" Mr. John Livingston, chaplain to the countess 
of Wigtown, (at that time, only a preacher, not an 
ordained minister, and about twenty-seven years 
of age,) was, with very much ado, prevailed on to 



iNCESTRV* 



lliiiik of giving the sermon. He had spent the night 
before in prayer and conference ; but when he was 
alone in the fields, about eight or nine in the morn- 
ing, there came such a misgiving of heart upon him, 
under a sense of unworthiness and unfitness to 
speak before so many aged and worthy ministers, 
and so many eminent and experienced Christians, 
that he was thinking to have stolen quite away? 
and was actually gone away to some distance ; but 
when just about to lose sight of the kirk of Shotts. 
these words : Was I ever a barren wilderness, or 
aland of darkness, were brought into his heart with 
such an overcoming power, as constrained him to 
think it his duty to return and comply with the call 
to preach ; which he accordingly did with good 
assistance, for about an hour and- a half, on the 
points he had meditated from that text — Ezek. 
xxxvi. 25, 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water 
upon you, and ye shall be clean : from all your filthi- 
ness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. JL 
new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will 
I put within you, and I will take away the stony 
heart out of your flesh, and 1 will give you an heart 
of fleshy 

" As he was about to close, a heavy shower co- 
ming suddenly on, which made the people hastily 
take to their cloaks and mantles, he began to 



24 ANCESTRY. 

speak to the following purpose — " If a few drops 
of rain from the clouds so discomposed them, how 
discomposed would they be, how full of horror and 
despair, if God should deal with them as they de- 
served ; and thus he will deal with all the finally 
impenitent. That God might justly rain fire and 
brimstone upon them, as upon Sodom and Gomor- 
rah, and the other cities of the plain ; that the Son 
of God, by tabernacling in our nature, and obeying 
and suffering in it, is the only refuge and covert 
from the storm of divine wrath due to us for sin ; — 
that his merits and mediation are the alone skreen 
from that storm, and none but penitent believers 
shall have the benefit of that shelter." In these, or 
some expressions to this purpose, and many others, 
he was led on about an hour's time (after he had 
done with what he had premeditated) in a strain of 
exhortation and warning, with great enlargement 
and melting of heart." 

The same historian goes on to state some facts, 
showing the powerful and permanent effects of 
this sermon upon many of the hearers : but instead 
of extending the quotation, it will not be amiss 
to present a brief extract from the work of another, 
in confirmation of the above account, especially 
as it contains a more general view of the effects 
produced. 



AXCESTRV. 



2d 



Mr. Fleming, an author of unquestioned ve- 
racity, in his work upon the fulfilling of the Scrip* 
tures* says — " I must also mention that solemn 
communion at the kirk of Shotts, June 20. 1630, at 
which time there was so convincing an appearance 
of God, and down-pouring of the spirit, even in 
an extraordinary way, that did follow the ordinan- 
ces, especially that sermon on the Monday, June 
21, with a strange unusual motion on the hearers* 
who in a great multitude were there convened, of 
divers ranks, that it was known, which I can speak 
on sure ground, near five hundred had at that time, 
a discernible change wrought on them, of whom 
most proved lively Christians afterwards. It was 
the sowing of a seed through Clyddisdale, so as 
many of the most eminent Christians in that coun- 
try could date either their conversion, or some re- 
markable confirmation in their case, from that day ; 
and truly this w r as the more remarkable, that one* 
after much reluctance, by a special and unexpect- 
ed providence, was called to preach that sermon 
on the Monday, which then was not usually practis- 
ed ; and that night before, by most of the Chris- 
tians there, was spent in prayer, so that the Mon- 
day's work might be discerned, as a convincing re- 
turn of prayer." 



* Page 185, folio - 
4 



ANCESTRY. 



Mr. Livingston says himself, in reference to 
this memorable occasion. " The only day in all my 
life wherein I found most of the presence of God 
in preaching, was on a Monday after the communion, 
preaching in the church yard of Shotts, June 21. 
1630. The night before I had been in company 
with some Christians, who spent the night in prayer 
and conference. When I was alone in the fields, 
about eight or nine o'clock in the morning, before 
we were to go to sermon, there came such a mis- 
giving of spirit upon me, considering my unworthi- 
ness and weakness, and the multitude and expec- 
tation of the people, that I was consulting with my- 
self to have stolen away somewhere, and declined 
that day's preaching, but that I thought I durst not 
so far distrust God ; and so went to sermon, and 
got good assistance, about one hour and a half, upon 
the points which I had meditated on, Ezek. xxxvi. 
25,26. — Andin the end, offering to close with some 
words of exhortation, I was led on about an hour's 
time, in a strain of exhortation and warning, with 
such liberty and melting of heart, as I never had 
the like in public all my life time. Some little of 
that stamp remained on the Thursday after, when 
I preached in Kilmarnock, but the very Monday fol- 
lowing, preaching in Irvine, I was so deserted, 
that the points I had meditated and written, and 
which I had fully in my memory i I was not, for my 



ANCESTRY, 



heart, able to get them pronounced : so it pleased 
the Lord to counterbalance his dealings, and to 
hide pride from man. This so discouraged me, 
that I was resolved for some time not to preach, at 
least, not in Irvine ; but Mr. David Dickson would 
not suffer me to go from thence, till I preached the 
next Sabbath, to get (as he expressed it) amends 
of the devil. — I stayed and preached with some 
tolerable freedom." 

Shortly after that signal blessing upon his labours, 
tins eminent servant of Christ, received and accept- 
ed a unanimous call from the church of Killinchie, 
in Ireland, where he was made, in some degree, 
useful to an ignorant but tractable people. And 
about this time, a similar extraordinary manifesta- 
tion of divine power attended his preaching upon 
another Monday after communion, at Holy-wood, 
upon which occasion, it is said, that a much greater 
number were converted. Under these two famous 
sermons indeed, it was calculated, that the good 
work of the Spirit was either begun or revived in 
the hearts of no less than fifteen hundred persons* 
But he now became an object of bitter persecution ; 
was proceeded against for non-conformity ; and 



* See Crookshank's History of the Church of Scotland, vol. I. 
p. 171. 



ANCESTRY, 



deposed. The effect of this arbitrary and cruel 
measure was, to induce him and a number of his 
friends, to think seriously of emigrating to New 
England. A vessel was built for the purpose ; and 
they actually set sail for America : but encounter- 
ing from the moment of their departure, violent 
adverse winds, and being driven back at last, after 
a lapse of nearly two months, to the port whence 
they had loosed, the design was altogether aban- 
doned. In 1638, he settled in a place called Stran- 
rawer, in Scotland ; and for ten years he exercis- 
ed his ministry here with great comfort, and some 
measure of success. He had not been long in this 
place, before some of his parishioners expressed a 
wish to be present at his morning family exercises. 
To gratify them, as his house could not conveniently 
accommodate all who might desire to attend, he 
assembled them every morning, in the Church, by 
the ringing of the bell, and spent about half an hour 
with them in singing, expounding the word of God, 
and prayers. 

While he retained this interesting charge, he was 
several times sent by the General Assembly of the 
church of Scotland to visit some vacant parishes 
in the North of Ireland. Each missionary tour 
occupied three months ; and, " for the most part 
of all these three months," he says, " 1 preached 



ANCESTRY. 



29 



every day once, and twice on the Sabbath : the 
destitute parishes were many : the hunger of the 
people was become great ; and the Lord was pleas- 
ed to furnish otherwise than usually 1 was wont to 
get at home. I came ordinarily the night before to 
the place where I was to preach, and commonly 
lodged in some religious person's house, where 
we were often well refreshed at family exercise : 
usually I desired no more before I went to bed, 
but to make sure the place of Scripture I was to 
preach on the next day. And rising in the morn- 
ing, I had four or five hours myself alone, either in 
a chamber or in the fields ; after that we went to 
church and then dined, and then rode some five or 
six miles more or less to another parish." 

From Stranrawer he removed in 1648, to Ancrum, 
in Tiviotdale. With the people of this place, he 
continued, a number of years, beloved and useful ; 
but that intolerant spirit of the time, which could 
brook no mode of worship — no ministerial services, 
not conformed to prelatical rule, at length, procur- 
ed his banishment, with that of several other emi- 
nent ministers, from the kingdom of Great Britain, 

In April 1663, he fled to Holland, and settled in 
Rotterdam. His wife and two of the children fol- 
lowed him toward the close of the year, but five 
children remained in Scotland. 



30 



ANCESTRY. 



Having now considerable leisure, though he 
preached frequently to the Scots' congregation in 
this city, he diligently cultivated the study of the 
Hebrew language, and attempted to prepare for 
publication, a volume containing the original text 
of the Bible, in one column, and the several vulgar 
translations in another. The design was approved 
by Voetius, Essenius, Nethenus, and Leusden : 
and having spent much time in comparing Pagnin's 
version with the original text, and with other later 
translations — such as Munster's, Junius,' Diodati's, 
the English, but especially the Dutch, the latest, 
and esteemed the most accurate translation, he sent 
his manuscripts to Dr. Leusden, in compliance 
with a request of that learned professor, expecting 
they would be printed and published in Utrecht. 
It is not known what became of the work ; — but 
shortly after it was put out of his hands, he rested 
from his labours on earth, and entered into the joy 
of his Lord. He died August 9th, 1672, aged 69 
years, having resided in Rotterdam a little over nine 
years. 

This man of God, the principal events of 
whose life have been thus rapidly traced, was, as 
before observed, the common ancestor of the Li- 
vingstons in this country : and to be descended from 
a person of such piety, and zeal, and distinguished 



ANCESTRY. 



SI 



usefulness in the church of God, is assuredly a 
greater honour than to inherit a princely alliance : 
—at least, the time will come, and the writer 
hopes, is not far off, when even the world will so 
regard it. — Let him not be misunderstood. He 
did not intend, by the remark just made, to convey 
an intimation, that saving grace descends by inheri- 
tance ; but simply to express his conviction, that 
the day is not very distant, when religion will be, 
as it ought now to be, the chief concern of all men ; 
— when piety, though dwelling in the humblest 
cottage, and clothed in rags, will be universally 
held in higher estimation, than ungodliness, though 
encircled with all the splendors of royalty ; and 
consequently, that the respect which has been 
paid, time out of mind, to a connexion by birth or 
otherwise, with the worldly rich and worldly great, 
will be transferred to a kindred with those whom 
the word of God denominates the excellent of 

THE EARTH. 

But, if it be granted that, at present, little honour 
is by some attached to such descent, and that, it by 
no means secures the possession of saving grace ; 
yet still it may be averred, that it is not altogether 
unaccompanied both with honour and profit. 



A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's 



ANCESTRY. 



children : * and a history of many of the descen- 
dants of Mr. Livingston would afford a fine illustra- 
tion of the truth of Solomon's declaration. In the 
history of New- York, by an author of some repu- 
tation, the following notice is taken of him and 
his family, as that was, at the time, known in this 
country — " Mr. John Livingston, one of the com- 
missioners from Scotland, to king Charles II. while 
he was an exile at Breda. He was a clergyman 
distinguished by his zeal and industry, and for his 
opposition to episcopacy became so obnoxious* 
after the restoration, to the English court, that he 
left Scotland, and took the pastoral charge of an 
English presbyterian church in Rotterdam. His 
descendants are very numerous in his province, and 
the family in the first rank for their wealthy morals, 
and education. The original diary in the hand- 
writing of their common ancestor is still among 
them, and contains a history of his life." f 

The work from which this quotation is made, 
was published in 1756 ; — and up to this day, they 
have maintained, as a family, the same elevated 
station in society: the name of Livingston has 
been, generally speaking, associated with all that 
is respectable in character — honourably connected 



* Prov. 13. 22. t Smith's Hist, of N. Y. page 150. 



ANCESTRY. 



33 



with the literature, jurisprudence, and politics of 
the state and nation. 

There is hardly a family, so ancient and numer- 
ous, viewed in all its branches, more estimable for 
talent, and virtue, and important public services 
or possessing a greater weight of character — a 
weight of character obtained by a course of meri- 
torious conduct, through several successive genera- 
tions, by great intellectual distinction, and in some 
instances, by pre-eminent piety superadded. 

Robert Livingston, the son of John, and great 
grandfather of the subject of this Memoir, came 
over to America, it is probable, soon after his 
father's death. The history above quoted, con- 
tains a copy of the report of a committee of coun- 
cil made in 1753, to the Governor of N. Y., from 
which it appears, that the patent for the manor of 
Livingston was granted in 1686.* The same work 
states, that he was "a principal agent for the conven- 
tion," which met in Albany in 1689 ;f — and in 
another place it is said, that " the measures of the 
convention were very much directed by his ad- 
vice," and that " he was peculiarly obnoxious to 
his adversaries, because he was a man of sense and 



* Smith's Hist, page 287. f Smith's Hist, of N. Y. page 110, 

5 



ANCESTRY. 



resolution"* He went afterwards to England, for 
the purpose of attending to his affairs ; and while 
there, was the means of starting an enterprise 
against the pirates, at that period very numerous 
and destructive. It is no small evidence of the re- 
gard entertained for him, and of the confidence re- 
posed in his judgment, that the King, Lord Chan- 
cellor Somers, the Duke of Shrewsbury, the Earls 
of Romney and Oxford, and other persons of dis- 
tinction, engaged in the adventure, though it ulti- 
mately failed through the villany of Kid, who was 
intrusted with its execution. 

He was connected by marriage with the ancient 
and very respectable Schuyler family, and had three 
sons, Philip, Robert, and Gilbert. Among the chil- 
dren of Philip were — Philip Livingston, Esq. one 
of the illustrious band of Patriots, who signed the 
declaration of independence ; and William 
Livingston, L L.D. for a series of years Gover- 
nor of the State of New-Jersey, a man of warm 
piety, and distinguished for the extraordinary pow- 
ers of his mind. 

Robert had only one son (Robert), the head oi 
the Clermont family, as it is sometimes called, by 



* Smith's Hist, of N. Y. page 163. 



ANCESTRY. 



56 



way of distinction, and to which belonged the late 
celebrated Chancellor Livingston. 

Gilbert had five sons and two daughters. Henry, 
his first son, was the father of John H ; — and of 
Henry, it may be said, that he was an amiable, 
dignified, and excellent man. Blessed by nature, 
with a strong mind— liberally educated— -elegant of 
manners — irreproachable in morals, he enjoyed, 
through a long life, the esteem and confidence of 
the community. He was for a considerable period 
a member of the colonial legislature of New York ; 
and he was, by Letters patent, proprietor of the 
office of Clerk of the county in which he resided.. 
This office he retained after the revolutionary war 
until his death. When the arduous struggle for 
Independence commenced, he espoused with some 
zeal a cause dear to every genuine American, and, 
throughout the contest, was a decided friend to 
his country. 

He was born September 8th, 1714, and died 
February 10th, 1799, at his paternal estate, which 
is situate in Dutchess county, near Poughkeepsie, 
on the banks of the Hudson, and which is now in the 
possession of his grandson, Col. H. A. Livingston, 
having belonged to the family for more than a 
century. 



CHAPTER IL 



FROM HIS BIRTH, TILL HE FORMED THE RESOLUTION 
OF DEVOTING HIMSELF TO THE MINISTRY OF THE 
GOSPEL. 

To survey the life of a friend, whom we loved 
when acting his part among us, and mourned when 
death removed him from our sight, though it may 
awaken some sad recollections, or revive feelings 
upon which time has laid his lenient hand, is a 
gratifying task. And, if that friend ivas a child of 
God ;— if we had been in the habit of regarding 
him as an humble, heavenly-minded christian, whose 
affections were set on things above, and who culti- 
vated close communion with God, through the 
whole of his pilgrimage ; — if, moreover, he was a 
herald of the cross, distinguished by his talents, and 
learning, and virtues, and services, there is some 
profit, as well as pleasure, in tracing his path from 
the cradle to the grave— in following him through 
all the way in which the Lord had led him. Such 
an employment presents to our view beautiful ex- 
hibitions of the wisdom, and goodness, and sove- 
reignty of God in the ways of his providence, sue- 



EARLY LIFE. 



37 



eeeding each other, in admirable correspondence, 
and ultimately conducting the individual to the 
station Heaven had appointed him to fill : — It 
makes us acquainted with the circumstances, which, 
under the divine blessing, introduced him into the 
school of Christ ; — it discovers the gradual expan- 
sion and improvement of his mind in that school, 
and the progressive operation of those gracious 
principles which rendered him so eminent an ex- 
ample of piety while here — and which finally matur- 
ed him for a better world. In a word, it is both 
pleasing and instructive, as it shows, not only what, 
in the dispensations of mercy, had been done for 
him whose life is the subject of review, but also 
the particular connexion he had with the church of 
God, and in some measure the important benefits 
conferred upon her, through his honoured instru- 
mentality. 

The annals of such a man are not, indeed, of a cast 
likely to attract the serious notice of the men of the 
world. They can read with rapture the story of 
some great philosopher, statesman, or hero ; but 
that of the humble, pious, faithful ambassador of 
Christ, as it savours of heavenly things, is not suit- 
ed to their taste, or rather, speaks too forcibly to 
the conscience, in the perusal of it, however inter- 
esting its details, to afford them pleasure ; and it is 



38 



EARLY LIFE. 



not often, therefore, that religious biography re- 
ceives much attention out of the church. Be it so ; 
still the memory of the just is blessed. His faith 
and charity and zeal — his fervent prayers — his af- 
fectionate counsels — his unwearied labours to pro- 
mote the glory of God and the salvation of his fel- 
low men, " smell sweet in death, and blossom in the 
dust." The righteous shall be in everlasting remem- 
brance. 

In the preceding chapter, a brief account was given 
of the lineage of the Rev. Dr. John H. Living- 
ston, whose memoir occupies these pages, — a man, 
who, through a long and active life, by his ardent 
piety — by the dignity and affability of his deport- 
ment — by the uniform ability and faithfulness of his 
publick ministrations, commanded general confi- 
dence and esteem ; — a man, whose praise is in all 
the churches, but particularly endeared by many 
pre-eminent services to the Reformed Dutch 
Church,— First in her Councils,— First in her 
honours, — First in her affections. 

The author will now proceed to give a narrative 
of the life of this excellent man. 

He was the son of Henry Livingston, and S. 
Gonklin his wife, and born at Poughkeepsie, in 



EARLY LIFE. 



39 



Dutchess county, in this State, on the 30th of 
May, A. D. 1746. 

Neither pains nor expense were spared in his 
education. Till he was seven years of age, he re- 
ceived no other than parental instruction, but at 
this period, there being no school in his native 
place, he was sent to Fishkill, and put under the 
care of the Rev. Chauncey Graham. When he had 
been with this gentleman between two and three 
years, his father obtained a competent private tu- 
tor for him. He was accordingly brought home, 
and Mr. Moss Kent, (the father of the late Chan- 
cellor James Kent, Esq.) a gentleman whose qua- 
lifications for the trust were very respectable, and 
of whose faithful attentions to him, he ever after- 
wards cherished a grateful recollection,— was now 
charged with the superintendence of his studies. 
With the assistance of such an instructer, and 
possessing a docile and inquisitive mind, his im- 
provement, the two following years, in classical 
literature, and in such other scholastic branches 
as, at the time, were taught to prepare young men 
for admission into college, was considerable. And 
it is a fact, whatever may be said in favour of an 
early public education— and the advantages enjoy- 
ed in some seminaries are certainly great, — that 
private instruction, judiciously and faithfully impart- 



40 



EARLY LIFE. 



ed, under the eye of a parent, is very conducive 
to the proficiency of a pupil— particularly, if he 
shows some quickness of parts and a thirst for learn- 
ing. He has few temptations to idleness ; his 
difficulties may be removed as soon as they occur ; 
the ordinary conversation of his teacher with whom 
he lives, in some measure, as a companion, has a 
salutary influence over him ; and thus favoured, 
he cannot but find the acquisition of knowledge 
easy and pleasant. — Young Livingston found it so, 
while he had the benefit of the instruction and com- 
pany of Mr. Kent. Speaking of the advantages 
he enjoyed at this time, in a short memoir written 
by himself, he says : — " I proceeded with delight 
and success in my studies, during the years 1755 and 
1756." 

The ensuing year, he was placed in a grammar 
school at New Milford, in Connecticut, under the 
direction of the Rev. Mr. JV*. Taylor ; and with 
this gentleman he continued about a year. Having 
finished his preparatory studies, in Sept. 1758, when 
only a little over twelve years old, he was examin- 
ed and admitted a member of the Freshman class, 
of Yale College, in New Haven. 

The country, at the period referred to, was not 
distinguished for good literature. Education was 



EARLY LIFE. 



41 



in its infancy, and what was termed a liberal one, 
comprehended attainments, in certain branches at 
least, which at the present day, in some of our prin- 
cipal seminaries, would hardly be deemed a suffi- 
cient preparation for commencing a collegiate 
course. The learned men of that day— and there 
were not a few to be found, in every profession, 
justly entitled to the appellation— were less indebt- 
ed to early advantages than to their own genius and 
application, for their success in literary pursuits. 
Classical learning in particular was, in several 
colleges, lightly esteemed, or comparatively held in 
contempt ;— and such appears to have been the fact, 
in the college at New-Haven, at the time of Mr. 
Livingston's matriculation — though probably, in 
point of reputation, and real merit indeed, it was 
not inferior to any similar institution. — It was then 
under the presidency of the Rev. Thomas Clapp, a 
distinguished mathematician, whose influence ren- 
dered the science of mathematics a leading sub- 
ject of study among his scholars. This they 
pursued with a degree of enthusiastic ardour ; — 
other subjects of equal, if not greater importance, 
were, it would seem, neglected, or treated by many 
as scarce deserving attention. 

Almost immediately, therefore, upon Mr. Living- 
ston's entrance, he, in common with his associates. 

6 



42 



EARLY LIFE. 



became enamoured of the favourite study ; and it 
will surprise no one to learn, if his age be kept in 
mind, that in some branches of it — as Trigonome- 
try, Navigation, Surveying, Astronomy, he found 
some things beyond his comprehension. He was 
chiefly occupied with these studies during the first 
half of his collegiate life ; — and in riper years, he 
ever very justly considered that half as having been 
spent to little purpose. 

As the Latin and Greek languages were not 
highly rated, and but slightly studied, the stock of 
classical knowledge with which he had been pre- 
viously furnished, was not much increased while he 
was in college ; — but that knowledge enabled him 
to appear, young as he was, to considerable ad- 
vantage among his fellow-students. — Some of them, 
pretty well grown up, it has been said, when about 
to prepare their classic exercises, would often 
pleasantly seat him upon their knees — as he was 
then quite little, — and with all deference, learn of 
him. — The anecdote shows that he was esteemed 
a remarkably good scholar in the languages. 

He finished his academical course, and took the 
first degree in the arts, in July, 1762. 

Having emerged from a state of literary pupil- 
age, he determined to enter at once upon profes- 



EARLY LIFE* 



sioaal studies : and the profession, which he deci- 
dedly preferred to any other, presented, it must 
be confessed, to a youth of his promise and connex- 
ions, very powerful attractions. He chose the 
law ; and in the autumn of the same year — soon 
after his return from college— commenced his pre- 
paratory reading in the office of Bartholomew 
Crannel, Esq. of Poughkeepsie, a gentleman of 
note as an able counsellor and eloquent advocate. 
—He was now, as he supposed, in the broad and 
ample road to future distinction.-—" Plans and 
views," he says in his own brief memoir, " of fu- 
ture eminence engrossed all my wishes, constitu- 
ted the sum of my present enjoyments, and finish- 
ed the prospects of succeeding happiness,"— and 
there can be little question, that, had he prosecu- 
ted the study and engaged in the business of the 
profession, he would, before many years, have at- 
tained unto its highest honours. The talents he 
possessed, with his dignified and pleasing address, 
and with the influence, in his favour, of a large cir- 
cle of respected relatives and friends, doubtless 
would have soon elevated him to the first place, 
either at the bar, or upon the bench. 

As yet, it does not appear, that he knew any 
thing of the power of religion.— He had preserved 
an unsullied moral character through a season of 



44: 



EARLY LIFE, 



education, which ever abounds with temptations to 
folly, and in circumstances of peculiar exposure 
to such temptations : —and, in the sweetness of his 
natural disposition — in the accomplishments of his 
mind — in the filial respect and affection with which 
he behaved to his parents — in diligent attention to 
his studies — in every part of his deportment, he was 
an amiable and hopeful youth, few perhaps more 
so ;— -affording flattering presages of no common 
worth and estimation, when he should be more ad- 
vanced in years and fully employed in professional 
duties. — But, as yet, he was an almost utter stranger 
to God and religion. He had walked according 
to the course of this world. He still lacked one 
thing, — that one thing, without which all else is but 
vanity— of transient utility at best, — unconnected 
with any eternal beneficial results, either to its pos- 
sessor or to others, 

A writer of the last century has somewhere ob- 
served that " proud views and vain desires in our 
worldly employments are as truly vices and corrup- 
tions, as hypocrisy in prayer or vanity in alms."* 
The observation is certainly a correct one : and a 
more unequivocal proof of an unhumbled, unsanc- 



* Law. 



EARLY LIFE. 



45 



iitied heart, need not to be given, than the indul- 
gence of such views and desires. 

Mr. Livingston was actuated, when he made the 
above choice of a profession, by an inordinate am- 
bition of the honours of the world ; and the fact 
clearly evinces that he was then without hope, in a 
state of great spiritual blindness, alienated from the 
life of God through the ignorance that was in him. 

The reader must not infer, however, from this re- 
mark, that he was void of all serious impressions* 
Impressions of divine truth, of a powerful kind, 
had been early made upon his mind, which were 
never wholly erased, and which, when from under 
the watchful eyes of his parents, and mingling at 
pleasure with college companions and others, had a 
happy influence upon him. He had been instruct- 
ed in those great doctrines of the gospel, the be- 
lief of which involved his present and everlasting 
peace. Though he could not intelligently unite in 
the publick worship of God, in his native place- 
being there, at the time, conducted in the Dutch i 
language — -yet he had been carefully trained up to 
a religious observance of the Sabbath ; and after- 
wards, when he became a member of college, it 
was his privilege to hear, in a language that he did 
understand, the precious truths of salvation, regu- 



46 



EARLY LIFE. 



larly and faithfully inculcated upon the Lord's day. 
These means, if not immediately followed by a sa- 
ving change of heart, at any particular period of 
their enjoyment, were not altogether unproductive 
of salutary effects. — " While I was yet a child," he 
says, " the solemn impressions of the being and 
presence of God, of my dependence upon him, 
and the awful realities of a future state, were very 
strong, and frequently interrupted me in my play 
and sports. I often left my little companions and 
sought some retired spot, where I might pray, with- 
out being observed. What I prayed for, and what 
my views and exercises in prayer were, I do not 
now reccollect ; but there was something of the 
fear and reverence of God, of the evil of sin, and 
an universal obligation to fulfil every duty, which 
occupied my mind, aroused my conscience, and 
convinced me that I could never be happy, if I re- 
mained an enemy to God, or wilfully transgressed 
his holy commandments. — But these first princi- 
ples or convictions, whatever they were, did not 
prove effectual to produce conversion. They 
were changeable and transient. They frequently 
returned, and were as frequently forgotten, except- 
ing that they created in me a lively and tender con- 
science, which, through all the giddy mazes, violent 
temptations, and wild eccentricities of youth, never 
wholly forsook me. They excited a rigid moni- 



EARLY LIFE. 47 

i 

tor within my breast, and often silently but power- 
fully preserved me from follies and sins which, 
otherwise, I should undoubtedly have perpetrated, 
I recollect instances wherein the Lord, with a 
strong hand and discernible interposition, prevent- 
ed me from committing sins where temptations 
were numerous and urgent. These early impres- 
sions went no farther.— The amount of benefits re- 
sulting from early parental instruction, and from all 
the ordinances and sermons I had heard during my 
whole life, was nothing more than some confused 
ideas of truths, which I did not understand, or be- 
lieve. This was my own fault, for I had not been in 
earnest or desirous to know the Lord or obey his 
word," 

The fault most assuredly was his own ; and he 
is not the only one who has had to acknowledge the 
neglect or abuse of precious means of grace. — 
Some, possibly, who read these pages can confess, 
that they have sadly disregarded the tears, and 
prayers, and faithful instructions of pious friends- 
still living, or peradventure, already mouldering in 
the grave,— and that various opportunities of reli 
gious improvement, which a kind providence has 
permitted them to enjoy, through their own remiss- 
ness or obstinacy, have proved of very little bene- 
fit to their souls. Happy they, who see and own 



48 



EARLY LIFE, 



their sins, in the exercise of repentance towards 
God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ! — If, 
however, he had no clear, distinct perception of 
evangelical truth— no genuine gracious experience, 
under parental and ministerial teaching ; still, as 
has been before remarked — and the same is evident 
from his own words — it was, in a very important 
sense, profitable to him : and though such early 
teaching never had, in any case, any other effect* 
than simply to preserve a young person from the 
follies and dangers to which, in his intercourse with 
the world, he cannot but be greatly exposed, or to 
check his waywardness — this alone constitutes an 
ample reward for all the toil, and solicitude, and 
patience, of the teacher- — be he a parent or a pas- 
tor. 

But the convictions and impressions which Mr. 
Livingston received from time to time, were con- 
nected, it is believed, more closely than he seems 
to have imagined, with his future conversion. They 
were pleasing indications that the Spirit of God w T as 
hovering about his path ; and it is not improbable 
that they formed, in their effect, the incipient step 
in that renovating process which it was his happi- 
ness subsequently to experience. Conviction is 
not indeed conversion, — nor does conversion always 
follow conviction ; and conviction, therefore, cannot 



EARLY LIFE. 49 

be relied upon as an infallible sign of the presence 
and operation of saving grace :— yet more or less 
conviction precedes conversion; and, when it comes 
again and again, exciting to prayer and vigilance 
and other religious duties as often as it comes,— 
it looks, to say the least, as if the Lord, in the dis- 
pensations of his mercy, is preparing the way for 
the good work.-— How far the way is thus prepared, 
or the precise connexion between the work and cer- 
tain antecedent circumstances which, as means 
serve to introduce it, will be best known in that 
world where the dealings of God can be accurately 
retraced, and where, upon remembering all that the 
Lord had done for him, the heir of glory willbe con- 
strained to exclaim— He hath clone all things welL 

Mr* Livingston applied himself assiduously to 
the study of law until the close of 1764, when 
his health being a good deal impaired, in conse- 
quence, as he supposed, of close application to read- 
ing and writing, he deemed it his duty to give up 
his attendance at the office of Mr. Crannel. This 
retirement gave him abundant leisure for serious 
reflection ; and apprehensive, from some symp- 
toms of pulmonary disease, that his glass was near- 
ly run, and that he would soon have to appear be- 
fore the Judge of all the earth, the momentous con- 
cerns of eternity took entire possession of his mind 
He now saw his true character and condition as a 



EARLY LIFE. 



sinner, and for a season, was in deep distress — but 
it pleased the Lord, at length, to lift up the light of 
his reconciled countenance upon him, and to give 
him peace. * 

The reader wilt no doubt be gratified to see his 
own account of a work, which resulted in a cordial 
submission to Christ as the Lord, his Redeemer. 

"A Book, 99 he says, " of Bunyan, I think it was 
—Grace abounding to the chief of sinners, first ex- 
cited sharp and irresistible alarms in my soul, but 
1 obtained no particular instruction nor received 
any other advantage from that book. In my 



* It is stated, in one or two little sketches of his life, which 
(he author has seen in print, that he was converted under the 
ministry of the late pious and excellent Dr. Laidlie. This is a 
mistake. He did not become acquainted with that distinguish- 
ed man of God, till the summer of 1765, — some considerable 
time after the blessed change had, as he believed, taken place. — 
If he had previously ever heard him preach, which might have 
been the case, and the sermon or sermons had proved so profit- 
able to his soul, it can hardly be supposed, that he would have 
failed to notice the incident, when giving himself, quite a minute 
detail of the commencement and progress of his religious exer- 
cises. — In this, however, there is nothing of the kind mentioned 
or even alluded to ; and what he does say of the peculiar circum- 
stances, under which his attention was directed to eternal things , 
/rorresponds with the representation made above. 



EARLY LIFE. 



51 



father's library, among other religious books, I 
found Doddridge's Rise and Progress, &c. This 
gave me more enlarged and correct views of reli- 
gion than I ever had before. I perused it with 
great attention and much prayer, and wished to 
feel and experience the power of the truths, as they 
occurred in succession. This book was useful and 
blessed to me beyond any uninspired volume I ever 
read. But my chief attention was fixed upon the 
Sacred Scriptures. I knew nothing of the peculiar 
nature of a divine revelation, nor of the distinct 
classes of arguments, which prove the Bible to be 
written by men inspired of the Holy Ghost ; but 
there was an internal evidence in that sacred Book, 
— there was a majesty, sublimity, and authority con- 
nected with perspicuity and power, which com- 
manded my attention, and enjoined obedience. — 
The divine perfections of the Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Ghost, one God ; and his glorious works, 
as delineated in the Bible, I was sure were agreea- 
ble to truth. And I found the secrets of my heart, 
my state, my character, my principles and conduct, 
were all naked and open to the word of God. To 
receive, therefore,that blessed Volume, without he- 
sitation, as the standard of my faith and practice, 
was my ardent wish, being firmly persuaded that I 
should be condemned or accepted agreeably to its 
infallible declarations. To understand the^Scrip- 



52 



EARLY LIFE. 



tures became consequently my earnest study and 
daily prayer, and to them I appealed upon every 
question which arose in my mind." 

" Convictions of sin, of guilt, and misery, became 
clear and pungent ; and some confused idea of re- 
demption through a Saviour, and the possibility of 
pardon, and the restoration of my depraved nature, 
engaged my thoughts and prayers, without inter- 
mission. For several months, I could do nothing 
but read and meditate, plead at a throne of grace, 
and weep over my wretched and lost estate." 

" As new inquiries and difficulties arose, and new 
truths, with their inseparable consequences, came 
under consideration, I repaired to the Bible, I sup- 
plicated for light and instruction, and had to con- 
tend, study, and struggle for every article of faith 
in succession." 

" Two doctrines, above all others, engaged my 
ardent attention, and caused a severe and long 
conflict." 

" The first was the divinity of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. I saw, in his word, that he was a great 
Saviour ; that the Father was well pleased in his 
Son, and that sinners, the chief of sinners, were 



EARLY LIFK. 



accepted in the Beloved, I believed that he was 
able to save, even to the uttermost, all who came 
unto God by him. It was also evident, that in all 
his fulness, he was freely offered in the Gospel, and 
the vilest sinners were authorized and commanded 
to believe in him, to accept him in all his glorious 
offices, and become exclusively his property. But 
if he were only a man, I did not dare to give myself 
away wholly to him, as I should then, by a solemn 
act, engage to belong to a mere creature, and thus ? 
by becoming united even to Jesus, I should not 
yet come home to my God, from whom I had re- 
volted. This checked my exercises for a time> 
and brought me into great fears and perplexity ; 
until, from his word, I obtained a clearer discovery 
of the perfections of God, and of the infinite evil of 
sin. This convinced me that no finite arm could 
vindicate the divine government, and rescue me 
from the curse ; that he alone who made me could 
possess authority and power to redeem me ; and 
that my Saviour must not only be truly man, but 
also truly God. I then satisfactorily perceived 
and understood that it was the doctrine of the Bible ; 
I saw it was the uniform declaration of the sacred 
scriptures, that the Son of God was one with the 
Father ; that he that hath seen the Son hath seen 
the Father ; and that, therefore, if I came to Jesus 
I should come home to my God : my Maker would 



54 



EARLY LIFE. 



be my husband. Of that interesting truth I have 
never doubted since. 

" The other doctrine which fixed my attention 
and excited much care and study respected Justifi- 
cation. 

" A conviction of guilt and misery, of pollution 
and inability, assured me of the impossibility of my 
being accepted of God, either in whole or in part, 
for any thing to be produced or performed by me. 
I was fully convinced that without a better right- 
eousness than my own, I must and should perish 
forever. This conviction prompted me most atten- 
tively to read, and with fervent prayer to study the 
word of God. I made no use of commentaries, 
nor any human aid, but perused and compared again 
and again the sacred scriptures, especially the Pro- 
phecy of Isaiah, the Epistles of Paul to the Romans 
and to the Galatians, the first Epistle of Peter, 
and the Gospel of John. These I attentively read, 
—upon these I meditated, and with a sincere de- 
sire for instruction, continually supplicated the 
throne of grace to be led into the truth, preserved 
from error, and established in the doctrine of the 
Gospel. And it pleased the Lord, I trust, to give 
me the light and instruction I sought. The right- 
eousness of Christ, comprising his active and pas- 



EARLY LIFE. 



55 



sive obedience, and the imputation of that right- 
eousness to every soul who receives the Saviour by 
faith, and thus, by his Spirit, becomes united to him, 
which is the basis upon which imputation rests, 
were rendered so intelligible, clear and, convincing 
to my mind, that I considered the result to be the 
teaching of the Holy Spirit by his word, and receiv- 
ed it and submitted to it, as such, without any 
wavering or carnal disputation.— That the atone- 
ment of Christ was specific, complete, and worthy 
of all acceptation, I was sure, 

" These were my views of justification by faith, 
but not for faith. And my belief of the relation of 
God the Redeemer to all the redeemed, and of the 
imputed righteousness of the precious Saviour, 
was then so decided, clear and full, that although a 
long life of study in this, and other doctrines, has 
succeeded, I do not know that I have ever obtained 
one new or additional idea, respecting the justifi- 
cation of a sinner All I know of it I gained at 
that period of my life and of my exercises, and no 
adverse winds of false doctrines have ever shaken 
my faith." 

That these two great fundamental doctrines of 
the gospel, which so clearly exhibit the unsearcha- 
ble riches of the grace of God, and so clearly se~ 



>t> EARLY LIFE, 



cure all the glory to God, in the salvation of a sin- 
ner, should at first excite some opposition in his 
mind, is not at all astonishing. They, of ail others, 
are the truths, which the proud, unsanctified heart 
most perfectly hates, and to which, until subdued 
by the spirit of God — until driven from every re- 
fuge of lies, and convinced that the reception of 
them is essential to salvation, it will not yield an ho- 
nest submission. Few that have passed from death 
unto life have not been sensible of resistance to 
these cardinal points of faith : — Yet not one has 
found solid peace and hope in God, till he cordially 
embraced theme 

Justification by the imputed righteousness of a 
Divine Redeemer, Luther calls, articulus stantis 
vel cadentis ecclesim ;~ — and it is a well spring of 
the purest and richest consolation to every soul, that 
duly apprehends the terrors of divine wrath, and 
sees no help but in Christ. The discovery, that 
the blood of the Saviour is blood of infinite value ? 
and that in him there is righteousness— a finished 
righteousness, accompanied by faith, brings to the 
sinner, oppressed with a sense of his guilt and ruin, 
light, peace, and joy . 

But to return to Mr. Livingston's description of 
his religious exercises : 



EARLY LXF.K 



57 



"During these studies and conflicts, a sense ol' 
guilt increased, and the most distressing convic- 
tions of sin excited amazement and terrors, which 
no words can express. My unbelief prevented me 
from closing with the gracious calls of the Gospel ; 
my heart remained so hard and stubborn, and my 
fears became so alarming that I was reduced to the 
brink of despair, and felt and experienced what it 
would be improper even to mention. In this dread- 
ful horror of soul, and fearful state of mind, I con- 
tinued many weeks ; and had it continued much 
longer, or arose a little higher, I must have died, 
I believed the Lord Jesus was able to save me, but 
I could not believe that he was willing to receive 
and save a wretch^ who had sinned so much, and 
resisted his grace so long as I had done." 

" At length it pleased him to conquer my un- 
belief, by convincing me that if the Saviour was 
able to save me, he must, most assuredly, be also 
willing, and that as such, lie had pledged himself 
not to cast out any who came to him. This broke 
the chains and brought me into liberty. This dis 
pelled doubts, removed fears, and conquered des- 
pondency. This gave me free and cheerful access 
to a throne of grace. I found a warrant and free- 
dom to give myself away to the blessed Jesus, and 
I. did most unreservedly do it, with the greatest 



EAKLY LIFE. 



willingness, sincerity, joy, and eagerness, that I 
ever performed any act in my life." 

" Now consolations succeeded to griefs. I lived 
by faith. I found rest, and knew what it was to 
have Christ living in me. I had joy and peace in 
believing. I was conscious that I had received the 
divine Redeemer in all his offices, as offered to sin- 
ners in his word ; that I had devoted myself, for 
time and eternity to him, and was no longer my 
own ; and that I had actually become united to 
him. I have never doubted of this transaction, 
through all the trials of faith, to this day." 

Unbelief is the strongest of the strong holds 
which the great adversary occupies in the sinner's 
heart, and he will maintain it as long as he can ; 
but the power of Christ can, and will, demolish it ; 
— Grace will triumph at last. This struggle be- 
tween sin and grace, which is related with much 
simplicity and clearness, was sharp, andoflongcon- 
tinuance, but the issue was glorious. It was severe 
experience; — but it furnished him with the most 
pleasing evidence of the kindness and love of God 
his Saviour to his own soul, and it effectually school- 
ed him for the work of guiding and comforting 
others, who might have similar conflicts — a work 
in which, throughout his ministry, he was acknow- 



EARLY LIFE. 



59 



ledged to be eminently useful. All who are taught 
of the Spirit of God, are taught the same great 
truths pertaining to salvation ; but, as all do not have 
exactly the same exercises, or the same measure of 
conviction, temptation, and distress, and the same 
measure of faith and enjoyment, it is no small 
proof of the tender and faithful care of the chief 
Shepherd for his flock, when he raises up and sends 
forth those to feed them who are amply qualified 
to use the tongue of the learned upon the subject of 
Christian experience, 

Having thus solemnly given himself to Christ, 
and obtained a comfortable persuasion of the se- 
curity of his eternal interests, some may be curious 
to know, whether he long held fast the confidence 
and the rejoicing of the hope, or whether, through 
the devices of Satan an unfavourable change in his 
views and feelings, did not soon after occur. — It is 
not often indeed, that the joy felt immediately upon 
conversion, continues, for any considerable time, 
unabated.— -The believer is now engaged in a war- 
fare, in which a wily and powerful enemy, without 
constant watching and praying, will get an advan- 
tage, and involve him in new troubles :■ — it is fre- 
quently the case, that he is not brought at once 
into a settled state of peace ; that upon some fresh 
and unexpected assault, or perceiving the working 



r>0 



EARLY LIFE. 



of some corruption which he had supposed to be 
slain, he becomes again depressed with doubts and 
fears, and walks for a season in darkness. — But in 
this respect Mr* Livingston appears to have been 
peculiarly favoured by his divine Master. — " For 
some months," he says, " my consolations abound- 
ed ; and I felt a degree of that love which casteth 
out fear. Raised from the depths of despair, and 
brought out of darkness into light, I now enjoyed 
all that assurance of salvation and rapture of hope 
which a lively, direct, and appropriating faith in my 
blessed Jesus produced. I realized my union with 
him ; I derived of his fulness, and walked in the 
light of the countenance of the God of my salva- 
tion." 

" Sin appeared exceeding sinful. With a bro- 
ken and contrite heart I sincerely repented of it ; 
and I especially mourned when I looked unto him 
whom I had pierced, I abhorred myself as a mon- 
ster of iniquity and ingratitude, while I fled for 
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before me. 
Willing and desirous to be saved from my sins, and 
hungering and thirsting after righteousness, my 
Saviour became very precious to my soul. He was 
the Lord, my righteousness and strength, my way, 
my end, my life, my all in all. The word, Gal. ii. 
20, was realized and foremost in my exercises for 



EARLY LIFE. 



(31 



sometime. I believed, experienced, and repeated- 
ly said, / am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I 
live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the 
life which I no d live in the flesh I live by the faith of 
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for 
me. I now knew that divine grace had reduced a 
prodigal to his right mind, and brought a wander- 
ing and unworthy child home to his father. With 
my whole heart, I earnestly and repeatedly devot- 
ed myself to him, in a covenant, which I was con- 
fident was in all things well ordered and sure. I 
now had but one Master who had bought me with 
a price. To him, I exclusively belonged, and in 
the strength of his grace I resolved, with self de- 
nial and perseverance, to follow and serve him 
alone." 

" This opened to me sublime and affecting 
views. This broke the prevailing power of sin in 
my soul, and it has never had dominion over me 
since. This inspired me with supreme love to God 
and holiness ; and suggested ends and motives un- 
known tome before. Every thing appeared, and 
was in fact, then, new to me. With the change of 
my relative state, when upon receiving Christ, I ob- 
tained the adoption ; he changed also my internal 
state, and gave me a new heart, with the temper and 
affections of a child. John i. 12, 18. — In the happy 



EARLY LIFE. 



frame, which these exercises and the communica- 
tions of the divine presence excited, I continued 
for some time with inexpressible delight ; and was 
convinced it would be easy to suffer martyrdom, 
if the Lord should please to manifest himself to 
the soul, and say — I am your salvation. These 
views and comforts engaged my total attention, 
and I expected they would always remain, and 
even daily increase ; and notwithstanding a disap- 
pointment in that expectation, still, the recollection 
and relish of those first exercises of faith, of hope, 
of love, of joy, and peace, have never been lost. 
In the darkest hours which have since succeeded, 
in the heaviest trials, and greatest discouragements, 
I have never gone to my blessed Saviour and God 
as to a stranger, but always have considered him 
as my covenant Head, my Lord, my Husband, and 
Portion, who has united me to himself, and from 
whom, I am assured, nothing shall be able to sepa- 
rate me. I know whom I have believed, and I am 
persuaded thathe is able to keep, and will keep, that 
which I have committed unto him against that day. 

" The first alarm, respecting a change in my 
comfortable frames, was occasioned by a ser- 
mon I one morning heard the celebrated White- 
field preach. His text was Ps. xl. 1, 2, 3. — In 
the introduction he said, he had intended to preach 



EARLY LIFE. 



upon another subject, but this passage was impress- 
ed with such power upon his mind, that he was 
constrained to take it ; and I believe, said he, there 
is one now present for whom God designs this to be 
a word in season. The ijoung convert, rejoicing in 
hope, ana in a lively frame, expects he will always 
proceed, with swelling sails, before a propitious gale 
of consolations : but remember, said the great 
preacher, (and I thought he pointedly and solemn- 
ly addressed me) thai at some period of your life 
you will come into a situation and exercises, which 
you will denominate with David, a horrible pit and 
miry clay ; there you will remain until your patience 
is severely tried. Yet be of good courage : the 
Lord will bring you out with triumphant songs of 
deliverance. He will set your feet upon a rock, and 
establish your goings. Your restoration will be 
equal to your first joys. Be of good cheer. Look 
unto Jesus, The victory is sure. From that hour, 
I considered this word intended for me, and expect- 
ed its accomplishment. I knew not what it fully 
comprehended, but I understood it in part, and 
was persuaded that I should know the whole. And 
in the progress of my spiritual warfare, I have 
experienced it, although I still wait for its highest 
fulfilment. No word of Scripture has been more 
constantly, for many years, present to my mind, in- 
fluential to my heart, or oftener upon my lips in 



64 



EARLY LIFE. 



prayer, while patience is performing its perfect 
work." 

It is not known that he ever believed the decla- 
ration to be Mly accomplished in his own experi- 
ence ; but it had proved a word in season for him. 
The impression which it made upon his mmd, at the 
time when it was uttered with such striking em- 
phasis by the preacher, was deep and salutary. It 
put him upon his guard, and kept him there ; and 
was thus probably an important means, in the hands 
of the Spirit, of preserving him to the end of his 
course, from any very palpable declension from his 
first love. 

The state of his health, for some time alter he 
had retired from the office of Mr. Crannel, was 
quite alarming to himself, and to his friends. He 
grew weaker every day, — a constant pain in his 
breast, with more or less fever, excited a distress- 
ing apprehension that he was consumptive : — so 
unfavourable altogether were the symptoms of dis- 
ease, that little hope could be entertained that his 
life would be prolonged even many months ; but 
at length, in or near the spring of 1765, there were 
pleasing signs of his convalescence ; the pain in his 
breast, though not wholly removed, was much less 
severe than it had been ; he w T as able to take 



iuARLV LIFE. 



daily some moderate exercise ; and, with the divine 
blessing upon this and other means used, he gained 
strength fast, and was soon again enjoying a good 
share of health. 

About the same time, there was an occurrence 
that made an indelible impression upon his mind ; 
and, as it showed a most signal interposition of Divine 
Providence in his favour, must here be related. 
It was truly a remarkable preservation from unseen, 
but impending destruction ; and he must be blind, 
who cannot read in it a striking exposition of the 
proverb, A man's heart deviseth his way : but the 
Lord directeth his steps. A young friend of his, 
whose health as well as his own, was in a feeble 
state, having concluded to try the effect of a voyage 
to one of the West India Islands, proposed that he 
should accompany him : and some circumstances 
concurring to render the proposal very agreeable 
at the moment, he did not hesitate to accept it. 
Nay, he was so delighted with the opportunity now 
presented of taking a trip of the kind, and so con- 
fident that he would derive great benefit from it 
that he decided upon the matter without previously 
seeking direction of the Lord, a duty which, after 
he became pious, he seldom omitted upon any occa- 
sion. It was understood that he would go; he 

fully intended to go ; and, as it was expected that he 

0 



EARLY LIFE, 



would sail soon, his kind mother provided a num- 
ber of articles, which she thought he would need 
at sea. After different things were attended to, 
however, preparatory to his departure, to the sur- 
prise of all his friends, he suddenly gave up the 
voyage. — This singular step, some no doubt will 
imagine, proceeded from timidity ; but it does not 
appear, from his own account of it, that he had be- 
forehand apprehended any danger, or anticipated 
aught but pleasure, and a restoration of his health. 
He could assign no reason for it, save that he had 
lost all desire to go : — he accordingly let his friend 
sail without him. 

When the voyage was nearly completed, two of 
the crew made an attempt one night to seize the 
vessel ; and, in the prosecution of their diabolical 
design, all on board, except a little boy, perished 
by their hands. After perpetrating the horrible 
deed, they gave themselves up to intoxication, and 
in this state, while in sight of the Island of St. Tho- 
mas, it so happened, providentially for their speedy 
detection, they ordered the boy to row them ashore. 
He did so ; and then, as soon as out of their 
power, informed against them. A vigorous search 
was instantly made for the wretches. One fled to 
St. Eustatia, but was there seized and broken upon 
the wheel The other, whose name was Ander- 



EARLY LIFE. 



67 



son, was taken in St. Thomas's sent back for trial 
to New York, and here executed " upon an Island 
in the Bay, near the city, which, from that circum- 
stance, has ever since been called, Anderson's, or 
Gibbet Island" 

Had Mr. L. accompanied his friend, in adher- 
ence to his first determination, speaking after the 
manner of men, he would never have returned ; — 
and it will readily be supposed, that upon hearing 
of the melancholy event, he was much affected 
with the thought of his own wonderful deliverance 
from a tragical death. He saw, in the preservation 
he had experienced, the protecting hand of a good 
God : — he knew that the Almighty had compassed 
him with favour as with a shield, and wrought that 
change in his inclination, which was the means of 
saving his life : — he therefore blessed the Lord, 
who had thus seasonably interposed to redeem his 
life from destruction.— It is a circumstance not 
altogether unworthy of notice perhaps, that the 
Great Being, who determines the bounds of our 
habitation, so ordered the place of his residence 
afterwards, that, for a great many years, " Ander- 
son's, or Gibbet Island," was frequently before his 
eyes as a memento of the singular mercy and 
never to the day of his death, did he forget it, or 
relate it to his friends, without connecting with the 



KARLY LIFE, 



relation, suitable expressions of gratitude and 
praise. 

" Few things in the history of religion," says a 
modern writer,* " are more interesting than the 
commencement and progress of Christianity, on a 
young, an ardent, and a highly cultivated mind. It 
cannot take hold on such a mind w ithout producing 
the most marked and important results. Its adap- 
tation at once to all the finest feelings of our nature, 
and to the most powerful of its intellectual facul- 
ties, makes it capable of producing all that is 
refined in moral sensibility, and all that is lofty in 
enterprise. It presents to such an individual a new 
world, teeming with objects of intense interest, 
and calling forth his deepest sympathy and his 
noblest ambition. It conducts into scenes of pure 
and ravishing sweetness, and diffuses over the spirit 
the peace of God, and the bliss of heaven. It pre- 
sents a theatre, not for display, but for action and 
suffering, in the most glorious of all causes ; the 
glory of God, and the salvation of men." 

It has been said, that he commenced the study of 
law, with great ardour and untiring diligence, — that 
he constantly read, and thought, and wrote, with a 



* Rev. William Orme. 



EARLY LIFE. HH 

fixed and predominant regard to the honours of the 
world, for more than two years, or until, by his in- 
tense application, he was brought apparently upon 
the very verge of the grave. After his conversion, 
this profession, however captivating once, present- 
ed no allurements. It was divested of all its charms. 
He had no relish for it : — not only so, he had a 
strong aversion to it, and finding the idea of pursu- 
ing it, as the business of his future life, painful to 
him, though he said nothing immediately upon the 
subject, to any of his friends, he determined to 
abandon it ; — at least, he felt a strong desire to turn 
Ms attention to some other, that would be more 
congenial with his present views and feelings, 
What to pursue in its place, he had not yet decided ; 
and some little time elapsed, before he was relieved 
from the embarrassment, which, in the interesting 
state of his mind at this moment, was connected 
with a decision. He was led, at length, to think of 
devoting himself to the ministry of the Gospel ; 
and " I began to feeL," he says, " even greater 
ardour for the study of divinity, than I had before 
entertained for the law ; yet here difficulties," he 
adds, "which seemed insuperable, immediately 
occurred. My health was still feeble ; the pain in 
my breast was frequently severe ; and I could 
scarcely hope that I should be even equal to the la- 
bours inseparable from the ministry of theGospel." 



70 



EARLY LIFE, 



As the work he was now contemplating is, of 
all works, the most momentous and excellent in 
which a mortal can engage, and which no one, who 
has a just impression of its nature and consequen- 
ces, will lightly think of undertaking — the soli- 
citude, humility, and pious zeal, wherewith he 
sought to know what the Lord would have him to 
do in reference to it, the reader probably would 
like to have fully exhibited. — The narrative cannot 
fail of being perused with interests and it will show 
clearly, that the resolution to which he ultimately 
came, was the result of a solemn conviction of 
duty, and a sincere desire to promote the glory of 
God. 

" But," he goes on to say in continuation, " this 
was only a secondary objection : my principal diffi- 
culty arose from another source. As the servant 
of Christ, I did not dare to engage in any profes- 
sion or service without being first convinced that it 
was agreeably to the will of my Divine Master ; nor 
could I form any determination until I had obtained 
his permission. The duties and office of the 
ministry of the Gospel especially, opened with 
such magnitude and high responsibility to my view, 
that I feared I was wholly unequal, and altogether 
unworthy of being employed in the sanctuary. I 
supposed it would be presumption in me to engage 



EARLY LIFE. 



71 



in this holy work ; and the words, Isa. i. 12. Who 
hath required this at your hand to tread my courts, 
were awful arid impressive*" 

" Convinced of the propriety and duty of acknow- 
ledging* the Lord in all my ways, and particularly 
in a step of such importance, and believing, that 
according to his promise, he would direct my paths, 
I often prayed most fervently to obtain light and 
direction in this interesting object. Sometimes 
encouraged to hope that I might proceed, and again 
cast down and desponding, I resolved to set apart 
a day, with fasting and prayer, to pour out my heart 
before the Lord, and plead for his instruction. 
Upon this solemn occasion, after fervent supplica- 
tions, reading the word, and serious meditation, I 
endeavoured to arrange the subject ; and the better 
to understand it, in all its bearings, 1 committed 
to writing in one column, all the arguments in favour,, 
and in another, all those against it. These I ma- 
turely compared and disinterestedly pondered. 
Especially, I endeavoured most accurately to ex- 
amine my motives and ascertain the end I proposed, 
if I ever should enter into the ministry. I found 
in this scrutiny, and was sure there was no decep- 
tion, that I was solely prompted by a zeal to 
promote the glory of my Divine Redeemer — by 
an ardent love for the souls of men, and a desire to 



EARLY LIFE* 



bring sinners, by preaching the Gospel, to the 
obedience of faith. I was conscious that I did not 
" desire the office of a Bishop" to gratify pride , 
indolence, or ambition, nor to promote my own 
personal advantage and profit, for I knew it would 
be a sacrifice of my secular interests and prospects ; 
but that in sincerity, and before God, it was to la- 
bour in his church ; it was to advance the cause of 
truth and holiness, and in this service to express 
my gratitude for redeeming love." 

" But such was my fear of rushing inconsiderately 
and impiously into this solemn work, that I several 
times repeated these devotional exercises, and again 
set apart days for that purpose ; still under the im- 
pression of those awful words, — Who hath required 
this at your hand, to tread my courts? — Nor did I 
dare to come to any conclusion, nor would I ever 
have commenced the study of theology, unless it 
had pleased the Lord to hear my poor prayers, and 
convince me it was consistent with his holy will, 
that I should devote myself to this arduous service, 

" I did not expect or desire any immediate re- 
velation, nor did I pray for any extraordinary mani- 
festation. I only wished for a removal of my doubts 
•and fears ; for a confirmation of my motives and 



EARLY LIFE, 



desires, and, in this way, to obtain a convincing and 
comfortable token of the divine approbation. When- 
ever I realized the voice of the Lord saying, Whom 
shall I send , and who will go for us? the reply of my 
soul was : — here am I, send me. Yet still I hesita- 
ted to conclude that he would send me, or expect 
he would honour me with his message. After 
some weeks spent in these exercises, the result 
was, that my doubts and fears were all entirely re- 
moved, and I began humbly to hope and be persua- 
ded, that I not only might commence in the study, 
but actually must proceed. Every other door was 
shut against me, while a sincere desire for this 
work, from honest and sanctified principles, prevail- 
ed ; and I could not avoid considering all this as a 
divine response— as a gracious word of commis- 
sion i— and he said go. — From that hour, I never 
doubted of my duty, but have had incontestable and 
continual proofs, that my Lord had called me to the 
ministry, and would in mercy employ me in his vine- 
yard. My only remaining burthen now was, to 
obtain the spirit of that station ; to be furnished with 
special talents ; to be instructed in the truth ; and 
to be rendered faithful," 

There can be no question, when, as the effect of 
that regenerating grace, which he had so power- 
fully experienced in his soul but a little before, he 

10 



74 



iQARLY LIFE. 



now relinquished a favourite pursuit, — a pursuit 
that promised the most brilliant temporal advanta- 
ges ; — and, after much serious and severe self-exa- 
mination ; after reading, and meditating, and fasting, 
and praying, again and again, with a view to obtain 
counsel of the Lord, upon the subject of his pre- 
sent inquiry, — after carefully arranging and weigh- 
ing the arguments for and against it, he arrived at 
the full conviction that a necessity was laid upon 
him to preach the Gospel, — there can be no ques- 
tion, it is repeated, with any candid and reflecting 
person, that he was indeed called of God to become 
an ambassador of the Prince of Peace. And, it 
is scarce possible to image to one's self a more in- 
teresting object than a youth, in the nineteenth 
year of his age, shut up for hours together in 
a retired room, that no eye might see, and no ear 
hear him but God's,- — there, upon his bended 
knees, with all humility and fervour of spirit, seek- 
ing to learn of Him, with whom is the residue of 
the Spirit, whether or not he shall go forward to 
proclaim the precious tidings of salvation to a dy- 
ing world. — How shockingly impious, in the eyes 
of all genuine Christians, and how contemptible 
in the eyes even of the world, if contrasted with 
his, must be the conduct of those, who, without 
giving any evidence of piety, assume the ministe- 
rial office ! To authorize its assumption, the pos- 



EARLY LIFE. 

session of grace, a certain degree of intellectual 
cultivation, an acquaintance with the system of re- 
vealed truth, and the approbation of the Church, 
duly expressed, are prerequisites, which common 
sense pronounces indispensable ; but, in addition to 
these things, it is necessary that there be such a 
drawing of his heart to the work, for the glory of 
God and the salvation of souls, and such a concur- 
rence of outward providences, in his case, as will 
show satisfactorily to the individual proposing to 
undertake it, the approbation of God. — There are 
many great and good men in the church, in whose 
conversion and call to the ministry, as far as known? 
nothing very striking or remarkable can, perhaps, 
be discovered ; yet, it is a fact, and the reader 
may possibly be able to refer to instances in verifi- 
cation of the fact, which have come within his own 
observation, that, when a person is in a manner, 
somewhat extraordinary, brought to a knowledge of 
the truth, and is suddenly diverted from a business 
which he had designed to pursue, and is constrained, 
contrary to antecedent views and calculations, to 
devote himself to the ministry of the Gospel, he is 
subsequently distinguished, in a pre-eminent de- 
gree, by the divine blessing upon his labours. To 
the writer, this appears to be an ordinary procedure 
of Providence ; and the sequel will show, that the 
Lord was preparing Mr, Livingston for a great 



76 



EARLY LIFE. 



work, and made him, through a long life, a burning 
and shining light in the Church. 

The important question being now solved to the 
satisfaction of his own mind, he deemed it proper 
at once to acquaint his father with the change that 
had taken place in his views. For reasons, which 
it is unnecessary to relate, he was apprehensive 
that he would not readily be permitted to quit the 
study of law ; but the result of the disclosure of his 
wishes was very different from what he had antici- 
pated, and thrilled his heart with delight. His 
father promptly and cheerfully consented to his 
commencing the study of theology ; and, for his 
encouragement, added a promise of such pecuniary 
assistance, as he might need in the prosecution of 
the good design. 



CHAPTER III. 



THE STATE OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH IN 
2JORTH AMERICA, ABOUT THE YEAR 1765. 

The Reformed Dutch Church in this country, at 
the time that Mr. Livingston resolved to seek pre- 
paration for the service of the sanctuary, was in a 
very unhappy and critical state. Before proceeding 
further in the account of his life, that some things 
to be stated in it, may be fully understood ; that his 
disinterested and useful offices in behalf of this 
church, which will be described in course, may be 
seen in a proper light, the peculiar difficulties then 
existing, so inimical to her peace and prosperity, 
must be unfolded. 

It will be necessary to take a cursory retrospect 
of the Church from her rise, in order fairly to exhibit 
the nature and influence of these difficulties. 

JVova Belgia, or New Netherlands as the part 
of America claimed or settled by the Dutch was 
originally called, comprehended a considerable 
extent of country. The earliest settlements they 



THE CHURCH. 



made, however, of any consequence, were at the 
head of the navigation of Hudson's river, and on the 
south-west point of the island Manhattans, in the 
State of New York, where they established them- 
selves in the beginning of the seventeenth century. 

The first emigrants were men of a bold, enter- 
prising turn, whose chief motive for leaving their 
native land was, no doubt, the acquisition of wealth. 
They came under a patent from their High Mighti- 
nesses the lords States General of the United Neth- 
erlands, and a few years after (in 1621) were placed 
under the care of the Dutch West India Company, 
to whom the States General, for the purpose of 
promoting the settlement of a colony here, had then 
made a grant of the country. 

Having been educated within the pale of the na- 
tional Reformed Church, they brought with them a 
strong attachment to its doctrines, worship, and 
government ; and, however deeply interested they 
were in secular pursuits, it is certain, that very soon 
after their arrival, they took measures for enjoying 
and preserving among them, in its purity, the reli- 
gion of their fathers. 

The authentic records of the Church of New- 
York commence with the year 1639 ; but there is 



THE CHURCH- 



7'J 



some reason to believe that it was organized as 
early as 1619.* —Whether or not, in the infancy of 
this settlement, a house was built expressly for the 
celebration of public worship, the writer is not 
informed. There was one erected, in 1642, at the 
south end of Fort Amsterdam, and another, before 
1664, on the farm (now called the Bowery) of 
Governor Stuyvesant, — which was built at the 
Governor's own expense, and in which his remains 
were afterwards interred.! 



* Among the manuscripts of Dr. Livingston, there is one con- 
taining a few observations upon the Dutch Church, in which he 

says, " documents of a private nature render it certain that a 

considerable church was organizedin that city, as early as 1619." 
—In another, he affirms, that a document " is still extant, con- 
taining the names of members, in full communion, of the Church 
of New-York, dated 1622." 

f Having noticed above, the first Dutch Churches in New-* 
York, it may not be amiss to present here, a description of those 
in use in the year 1756. 

Judge Smith, who wrote his History of New- York about that 
time, says,— " There are still two churches, in which religious wor<= 
ship is performed in that language. The old building," (in 
Garden Street,) " is of stone, and ill built, ornamented within by 
a small organ loft and brass branches. The new Church," 
( what is now called the Middle Church) " is a high, heavy edifice, 
has a very extensive area, and was completed in 1729. It has 
no galleries, and yet will perhaps contain a thousand or twelve 



so 



THE CHURCH. 



The first minister of New- York was the Rev. 
Everadus Bogardus ; and, as he was succeeded by 
another before the Dutch Government ceased in 
the colony, it is more than probable that he either 
came over with, or soon followed, the first emi- 
grants.* 

The precise time when a church was formed at 
Albany, or who was the first minister there, cannot 
now be ascertained ; but it scarcely admits of a 
question that the inhabitants of that place, almost 
from the moment of its occupancy, enjoyed the 
regular ministrations of the Gospel :f and nothing 



hundred auditors. The steeple of this Church affords a most 
beautiful prospect, both of the city beneath, and the surrounding 
country." 

* He was succeeded by the Rev. John Megapolensis. Sa- 
muel Megapolensis has also been represented as one of the 
ministers of this Church ; but in a letter of Gov. Stuyvesant, 
addressed to CoL Nichols, at the time of the surrender of the 
Colony to Great Britain, upon which occasion he acted as one 
of the Governors deputies, the only title given him, is that 
of " Doctor of Physic."— See Smith's Hist, page 42.— The 
ministers following in succession until the year 1693, were the 
Rev .Messrs. Samuel Dresius, William Van Nieuenhuysen, and 
Henry Solyns. 

| In one of the Historical Sketches of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, published in the Christain's Magazine, the author says. 



4 

THE CHURCH. 81 

can be more evident than that, prior to the surren- 
der of the colony to the government of Great Britain, 
Churches were established in several other parts 
of New Netherlands.* 

These facts show, indisputably, that the original 
colonists were, in general, men of great moral 
worth, who did not, upon being transferred to a 
new and distant country, or when far removed from 
the notice of pious friends, cast off the fear of God, 
and abandon themselves to licentious habits of life ; 
but, sensible of the importance of an early, public 
observance of the worship of God, and cherishing 
a high regard for the doctrines of the Reformation* 
as they had been taught them in Holland, at once 
so constituted themselves in a religious, as well as 
civil respect, as was best calculated to preserve 



" The Church at New-York seems to have been first organi- 
zed but in the manuscript of Dr. Livingston, before referred 
to, speaking of the Albany settlement, he observes, " It is very 
certain they had ministers there as early, if not before, any were 
at New- York." 

* At Flatbush, New Utrecht, Flatlands (then New Amersfort; , 
andEsopus. Between the year 1664 and 1693, a Church wa? 
formed in the City of Schenectady ; another on Staten Island ; 
three or four in different towns on the Hudson ; two or three 
more on Long Island ; and several in New- Jersey.— Chris, Mag 

11 



THE CHURCH. 



them from degeneracy, and to promote both their 
temporal and spiritual welfare. It was, in their 
estimation, a measure of no little consequence to 
the best interests of the colony, to settle among 
them, as soon as possible, pious and faithful minis- 
ters of the Gospel, who should instruct them and 
their children in divine things, and maintain among 
them all the ordinances which appertain to the 
service of God. And whether accompanied or not 
in their emigration by those of their own choice, 
subsequent circumstances soon rendered it neces- 
sary for them to depend altogether for a supply of 
such men, upon the choice of others. In these 
circumstances, as they had no connexion with any 
particular Classis in the mother country, they very 
naturally availed themselves of their connexion 
with the West India Company, whose influence 
was likely to obtain for them suitable pastors, or 
at least to secure them against impositions : and this 
Company, the greater part of whose Directors 
resided in Amsterdam, as naturally, whenever ap- 
plications for clerical supplies were received from 
the colony, availed itself in attempting a compli- 
ance of the advice and assistance of the Classis of 
that city. This way of relieving the exigencies of 
the churches here, the best, no doubt, if not the 
only one practicable at the time, ultimately reduced 
them to a state of ecclesiastical vassalage, of no 



THE CHURCH, 



83 



short duration, and fraught with the most serious 
evils. Uniformly receiving their ministers from 
the Classis of Amsterdam, these Churches, though 
not at first formally connected with it, were very 
easily brought to consider themselves subject to its 
authority. Gratitude for services rendered by the 
Classis, independent of any influence on the part 
of their ministers to this end, would dispose them 
respectfully to submit to its oversight and controul ; 
and the result was in the lapse of time, that, either 
from gratitude or ministerial influence, or both com- 
bined, together with the necessities of their situation, 
submission was yielded as a matter of solemn duty. 
That it was the interest of the ministers to inculcate 
and endeavour to secure such submission, must be 
obvious ; but it seems strange, that the Classis 
encouraged it after a number had been sent over, 
sufficient of themselves with their several congre- 
gations to be formed into a Classis. — It seems 
strange, that the Classis of Amsterdam were willing 
to retain any responsibility in relation to men, 
w r hose moral and ministerial conduct they could not 
inspect, or that they did not take measures, as soon 
as they were warranted by circumstances, with the 
Synod of North Holland, to have a Colonial Classis 
constituted. The formation of such a Classis, sub- 
ordinate to the Synod, would certainly have reliev- 
ed them of a great deal of trouble, and might, in 
reason, have been judged necessary to the peace 



84 



THE CHURCH. 



and welfare of the colonial Churches. And it seems 
yet more strange, that these Churches, suffering as 
they did, many inconveniences from their servile 
dependence upon a foreign judicatory, were not 
prompted, at a very early day, to apply for a local 
organization with classical powers. But this expe- 
dient was not thought of, and for more than a century, 
they continued to receive their supplies from the 
Classis of Amsterdam, to refer their controversies 
to it for decision, and implicitly to obey all its 
commands. And that Classis, having long had the 
exclusive management of these foreign concerns*, 
with the approbation or tacit consent of the other 
judicatories in the Netherlands, or without encoun- 
tering any interference, was at last supposed to 
possess a sort of paramount authority. It acquired 
unlimited power over its American charge. It was 
invested with an imaginary infallibility, to which 
almost the same respect was paid that Catholics are 
wont to show to that imputed to his Holiness the 
Pope. The opinion obtained with some, that it 
was the only legitimate source of ministerial autho- 
rity — that no ordination was valid, except it had 
been performed, or approved, by the Classis of 
Amsterdam. 

An instance of this kind of extravagance occur- 
red in Albany, in 1675. It is thus related : — " In the 
year 1675, Nicholas Kenslaer, a Dutch Clergy- 



THE CHURCH. 



85 



man, arrived here. He claimed the manor ot 
Renslaer Wyck, and was recommended by the 
duke (of York,) to Sir Edmond Andross, for a 
living in one of the churches at New-York or Alba- 
ny, probably to serve the Popish cause. — Niewen- 
hyt, minister of the Church at Albany, disputed his 
right to administer the sacraments? because he had 
received, an Episcopal ordination? and was not ap- 
proved by the Classis of Amsterdam? to which the 
Dutch Churches here hold themselves subordi- 
nate."* The controversy excited a good deal of 
interest at the time, and in the end, was referred to 
the determination of the Consistory of the Dutch 
Church at Albany —Opposition to the settlement 
of Renslaer, under the suspicions entertained of 
his character and designs, was perfectly justifiable 
upon the ground of those suspicions, but not upon 
that of the supposed invalidity of his ordination* 
This? if not thought to be derived from quite so 
good a source as the Classis of Amsterdam — and 
such an opinion would probably find some advo- 
cates at the present day, — provided he showed a 
willingness to adopt the standards of the Church 5 
and to put himself under its government, could not 
fairly be viewed as barring his reception ; much 
less, could it be viewed as in itself wholly inefnca- 



* See Smith's History? page 63, 



86 



THE CHURCH. 



cious, or conferring no right to administer sealing 
ordinances. The claim, however, which Niewen- 
hyt,* in his zeal, set up in favour of the exclusive 
validity of Holland ordination, was not more 
chimerical and absurd than that which in modern 
times has been advanced, and somewhat strenuous- 
ly maintained, in favour of the exclusive validity of 
Episcopal ordination ; and though urged, on the 
occasion, in contravention of a suspected nefarious 
design, the fact that it was urged, clearly evinces 
the influence which it was believed the argument 
would have ; and hence, may be seen the ascen- 
dency then of the Classis of Amsterdam, in the 
Dutch Churches, in this country. This ascendency 
continued unimpaired, and without even the sem- 
blance of opposition, until the year 1737, when, for 
the first time, an attempt was made to form a local 
convention, to have some general superintendence 
of ecclesiastical concerns. — A few ministers! met in 



* The writer has no means of ascertaining, though it would 
gratify him to be able to present, the names of the ministers who 
preceded Mr. Niewenhyt in the Church at Albany. In the Chris- 
tian's Magazine, the Rev. Messrs. G. Schaats and Godefridus 
Dallius, are represented to have served the same Church prior to 
the year 1693. 

t The R ev. G. Dubois of the city of New York ; the Rev. G. 
Haeghoort, of Second River ; the Rev. B. Freeman, of Long 



THE CHURCH. 



87 



the city of New- York, and agreed upon the plan 
of a Coetus, or an assembly of ministers and elders, 
to be subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam. 

The plan was submitted to the consideration of 
the churches ; and the following year, at a meeting 
of ministers and elders * held in the same city, it 



Island ; the Rev. C. Yan Santvoort, of Staten Island ; and the 
Rev. A. Curtenius, of Hackensack. C. M, 

* Present— The Rev. Mr. Dubois, with two elders, Anthony 
Rutgers and Abraham LefFerts ; the Rev. Mr. Freeman, with two 
elders, Peter Nevius and Dirk Brinkerhoof ; the Rev. Mr, Van 
Santvoort, with one elder, Goosen Adriance ; the Rev, Mr. 
Haeghoort, with one elder, F. Van Dyck ;t he Rev. Mr. Curtenius, 
with one elder,— Zabriskie ; the Rev. R. Erickson of Nauwesink. 
with one elder, J. Zutveen ; the Rev. J. Bohm, of Philadelphia- 
with one elder,— Snyder ; the Rev. Mr. Schuyler, of Schoharie, 
with one elder — Spies ; and the Rev, T. J. Frelinghuysen of Rari- 
tan, with an elder, H. Fisher. The names of the persons constitu- 
ting this meeting are taken from the Chris. Mag. in which the last- 
mentioned clergyman is thus spoken of in a note j— " He was a 
great blessing to the Dutch Church in America. He came over 
from Holland in the year 1720, and settled on the Raritan. He 
was an able, evangelical, and eminently successful preacher. He 
left five sons, all ministers ; and two daughters, married to 
ministers."— -To this, may be added the testimony of that eminent 
servant of Christ, the Revc Gilbert Tennent, respecting Mr. 
Frelinghuysen. In a letter to Mr. Prince, of Boston, he says,. 
" The labours of Mr. Frelinghuysen, a Dutch minister, were much 



88 



THE CHURCH 



was formally approved. A copy of it was at once 
forwarded to Holland, for the approbation of the 
Classis ; — and though perfectly inoffensive in all its 
features, — not intended to weaken, in the least, the 
authority of the Classis in its operation, but merely 
to afford the brethren opportunities of giving and 
receiving advice, in cases of difficulty, and of cul- 
tivating a good understanding with each other, — it 
seems to have been received with some little pre- 
sentiment of its future important results. — Whether 
such was the case or not, no answer was returned 
to the communication for the space of eight or nine 
years. — When the answer came, however, it was a 
gratifying one to the friends of the plan ; — and 
accordingly, in the fall of 1747, the Coetus was con- 
stituted. 



blessed to the people of New Brunswick, and places adjacent, 
especially about the time of his coming among them. When I 
came there, which was about seven years after, I had the pleasure 
of seeing much of the fruits of his ministry : divers of his hearers, 
with whom I had opportunity of conversing, appeared to be con- 
verted persons,, by their soundness in principle, Christian experi- 
ence, and pious practice : and these persons declared that his 
ministrations were the means thereof. This, together with a kind 
letter which he sent me, respecting the necessity of dividing the 
word aright, and giving to every man *his portion in due season, 
through the divine blessing, excited me to greater earnestness in 
ministerial labours."— Prince's Chris, Hisf. 



THE CHCRCli 



The body now formed, it will be recollected, 
had no power of ordination. Ordination was indeed 
sometimes performed here, but not independently 
of the Classis of Amsterdam,— their permission 
to perform it, in any case, must first be obtained. 
The Ccetus was not competent to proceed, upon its 
own motion, to an act of the kind ; and for it to hare 
done so, would have been considered a usurpation 
of power, or high rebellion against the authority 
of the Mother Church. The Ccetus, in fact, pos- 
sessed none of the rights or powers which essentially 
belong to a Classis ; and it was not long, therefore, 
before many who looked with the deepest solici- 
tude at the wants of the Church, and faithfully 
consulted her best interests, became convinced of 
the necessity of having a more efficient judicatory. 
Tins conviction grew stronger daily, and, in the 
end, induced a proposition to form a regular Classis 
The proposition was first made in Ccetus, in 1753, 
It gave rise naturally to considerable discussion, 
but was approved; and the next year, due measures 
were taken to ascertain the sense of the different. 
Churches upon the subject, 

The historian, whose words have been more thai? 

once cited, who wrote about the time of these 

occurrences, and upon the spot, speaking of the 

• Low Dutch congregations, says,— <£ With resped 

10 



90 



THE CHURCH. 



to government, they are, in principle, presbyterians, 
but yet hold themselves in subordination to the 
Classis of Amsterdam, who sometimes permit, and 
at other times refuse them the powers of ordination. 
Some of their ministers consider such a subjection 
as anti-constitutional ; and hence, in several of their 
late annual conventions, at New York, called the 
Coetus, some debates have arisen among them, the 
majority being inclined to erect a Classis, or eccle- 
siastical judicatory, here, for the government of their 
Churches. Those of their ministers, who are natives 
of Europe, are, in general, averse to the project. 
The expense attending the ordination of their can- 
didates, in Holland, and the reference of their dis- 
putes to the Classis of Amsterdam, is very consi- 
derable ; and with what consequences the interrup- 
tion of their correspondence with the European 
Dutch would be attended, in case of a war* well 
deserves their consideration."* 

Reasons, other than those enumerated by this 
author, had their influence in favour of the establish- 
ment of an independent Classis. It was not a little 
mortifying to several friends of the Church, that 
congregations should still be compelled to send 
to Holland for ministers, when the few who had 



* Smith's Hist, page 292, 



THE CHURCH. 



91 



been ordained here, were found to be quite as 
acceptable, and quite as useful, as were their Euro- 
pean brethren, and when others, of undoubted 
piety and sufficient talents, stood ready to become 
candidates for the ministry, as soon as the way 
should be fairly opened to a domestic ordina- 
tion. Besides, the foreign Ciassis, not knowing 
exactly the character and circumstances of every 
vacancy, was not always the most happy in the 
selection of a supply, nor, indeed, always the most 
promptly attentive to a request for one. It often 
happened that, after the transmission of a call, a 
vacancy remained for years without the regular 
ministrations of the Gospel. The proposal now 
under consideration, was, therefore, very popular 
in many parts of the Church. The idea of throwing 
off a yoke, which both they and their fathers had 
long been unable to bear, and of governing them- 
selves, was no sooner suggested than it suddenly 
spread, and arrayed in the support of itself, a num- 
ber of congregations and of ministers, both Euro- 
pean and native, who cherished a proper sense of 
their own rights, and a disposition to promote, at 
all hazards, the welfare of the Church* 

The measures pursued to carry this new plan 
into operation, and the patronage it received, 
alarmed the adherents of the Ciassis of Amsterdam. 



9£ 



THE CHURCH. 



and they speedily commenced a course of the most 
determined and active opposition. 

They met first in 1755 ; and, to be distinguished 
from the friends of an independent Classis, who 
retained the old name of C(etus, they called 
themselves Conferentie.* 

In point of numerical strength, the parties were 
about equal to each other : in other respects, there 
was a marked difference between them, — the former 
excelling in " practical preaching, zeal and indus- 
try," — the latter having the greatest share of learn- 
ing. The two bodies, now completely organized 
and prepared for war, took their stand against each 
other, with evidences of resolution and feeling, 
which foreboded a long, obstinate, and dreadful 
conflict ; and such, in fact, it proved. " The peace 
of the Churches was destroyed. Not only neigh- 
bouring ministers and congregations were at vari- 
ance ; but, in many places, the same congregation 
was divided ; and in those instances in which the 
numbers, or the influential characters on different 
sides, were nearly equal, the consequences became 
very deplorable. Houses of worship were locked 
by one part of the congregation against the other. 



* The ministers of this party were the Rev. Messrs. Haeghoort, 
Curtenius, Ritzema, De Ronde, Van Der Linde, Schuyler, Yan 
Sjnderin, Rubel, Frevenmoet, Kock, Kern and Rysdvck. 



THE CHURCH. 



Tumults on the Lord's day, at the doors of the 
Churches, were frequent. Quarrels respecting the 
services, and the contending claims of different 
ininisters and people, often took place. Preachers 
were sometimes assaulted in the pulpits, and public 
worship either disturbed or terminated by violence. 
In these attacks the Conferentie party were consi- 
dered as the most vehement and outrageous. But, 
onboth sides, a furious and intemperate zeal prompt- 
ed many to excesses, which were a disgrace to the 
Christian name, and threatened to bring into con- 
tempt that cause which both professed to be desi- 
rous of supporting."* 

For about fifteen years, this unhappy controversy 
was maintained with all the virulence of party spirit, 
producing, in many places, the most disastrous 
effects. " The more moderate and prudent mem- 
bers of both parties, were greatly grieved to find 
matters carried to such extremes. They per- 
ceived the mischief which this violence was daily 
producing, and foresaw the ruin to then- Church 
which was impending ; but were at a loss for an 
adequate remedy. To allay the bitterness of 
prejudices, which had been cherished for many 
years, and had become deeply inveterate ; to heal 



* Christ. Mag. 



94 



THE CHURCH. 



a breach which was now so wide, and was daily 
growing wider and more unmanageable, required a 
combination of concurring causes, which were not 
easily produced nor brought into action. Each 
party tenaciously held its own principles, and refu- 
sed to yield or compromise. No umpire could be 
found who was competent to decide, or who could 
expect obedience to his decision. The separation 
appeared to be without remedy ; hope was expir- 
ing ; and many valuable members, who abhorred 
discord, and could no longer sustain the evils 
which it produced, now left the Church and joined 
other denominations." * 

Such was the distracted and perilous state of the 
Dutch Church, under the baneful influence of this 
dispute, at the time when Mr. Livingston, after 
much serious deliberation, and earnest prayer to 
God, for direction, believed it was his duty to com- 
mence the study of theology. 

And the reader is requested to bear in memory, 
the alienation, bitterness, and open violence, now so 
prevalent; — the ruin, the utter extinction of the 
Church, which it was feared would inevitably follow, 
ere long, as the effect of this unholy strife ; and he 



* Chris. Mag. 



THE CHURCH. 



95 



will see, in the course of the ensuing narrative, how 
wisely, and how kindly, and how wonderfully in- 
deed, after the lapse of a century nearly, God, in 
his providence, recompensed the Christian sympa- 
thies and attentions of the Church of Holland towards 
the pious John Livingston, of Ancrum, whom it 
received and cherished, when exiled from his own 
country for his orthodoxy and zeal, by rendering a 
descendant of his an invaluable blessing to a portion 
of the same Church, when tossed with tempest, and 
apparently upon the brink of destruction. — And, as 
it is likely that this portion of the Church, though 
in a distant country, comprehended within its pale 
some of the lineal descendants of the particular 
Dutch friends of that persecuted and holy man, 
it will not be, unreasonable to imagine, that in return 
for the friendship shown him, such descendants 
were some how personally benefitted, through 
the honoured instrumentahty of his descendant. 
Bread cast upon the waters shall he found after 
many days. A cup of cold water given to one he- 
cause he belongs to Christ, shall not lose its reward. 

But there was another event of the day, which, 
as being connected with much that will appear in a 
subsequent chapter, and forming a signal epocha in 
the annals of the Church, deserves to be brought 
distinctly under the notice of the reader and that 



96 



THE CHURCH. 



was, the introduction of the English language in 
the service of the sanctuary. Until 1664, while 
the Colony was under the Dutch Government, the 
Dutch language was, of course, the only one in 
general use ; but long after it was in the possession 
of Great Britain, as the Dutch inhabitants were 
by far the most numerous, their language still con- 
tinued to prevail. They used it in their schools — 
in their public worship—in transacting their ordi- 
nary business : and, in fact, for more than a century, 
when the English was quite familiar to them, — such 
was their attachment to their mother tongue,— they 
spoke it habitually in their families. But, notwith- 
standing their pains to preserve it, by the combined 
influence of many agents and circumstances, it 
began at length to decline, and the consequence, at 
last, was its entire discontinuance. The causes of 
this decline, and of the final predominance of the 
English language in the province, can be easily 
traced. 

"As the greatest part of this province consisted 
of Dutch inhabitants," says Judge Smith, " all our 
Governors thought it good policy to encourage 
English preachers and schoolmasters in the colony. 
No man could be more bent upon such a project 
than Fletcher, a bigot to the Episcopal form of 
church government, He, accordingly, recommen- 



THE CHUKCH. 



ded this matter to the assembly, on his tirst arrival, 
as well as at their present meeting. The house, 
from their attachment to the Dutch language, and 
the model of the Church of Holland, secured by 
one of the articles of surrender, were entirely dis- 
inclined to the scheme, which occasioned a warm 
rebuke from the governor, in his speech at the 
close of the session/' At the next meeting of the 
assembly, in September 1693, a bill ivas passed, in 
compliance with his ivishes, " for settling a ministry, 
and was sent up to the governor and council, who 
immediately returned it with an amendment, to vest 
his excellency with an episcopal power of inducting 
every incumbent, adding to that part of the bill, near 
the end, which gave the right of presentation to 
the people, these words, and presented to the 
governor to be approved and collated. The house 
declined their consent to the addition, and imme- 
diately returned the bill praying, — that it may pass 
without the amendment, having in the drawing of the 
bill, had a due regard to that pious intent of settling 
a ministry, for the benefit of the people? 

According to this act, a certain number of vestry- 
men, and church-wardens, must be annually elect- 
ed in the city and county of New- York, and in 
the counties of West Chester, Queen's, and Rich- 
mond, to choose " a good and sufficient Protestant 



9a 



THE CHURCH, 



minister" for each district ; and, for the support of 
the minister so chosen, they were authorized to 
levy upon each district a certain sum, to be paid 
by the inhabitants, of all denominations. The act 
itself made no invidious distinction between minis- 
ters of different denominations ; but it was inter- 
preted as allowing of the choice only of those of 
the Episcopal Church. A construction, so disin- 
genuous and unwarrantable, naturally provoked 
much dissatisfaction in the community ; and in 
April, 1695, a petition having been presented upon 
the subject, the assembly declared it to be their 
opinion, "that the vestry-men and church- wardens 
have power to call a dissenting Protestant minister, 
and that he is to be paid and maintained as the act 
directs. The intent of this petition," adds the his- 
torian, " was to refute an opinion which prevailed, 
that the late ministry act was made for the sole 
benefit of Episcopal clergymen." * The popular 
discontent was not quieted, however, by this 
manoeuvre : it was a mere piece of finesse ; — for, 
whatever was the power of vestry-men and church- 
wardens in the matter, under their auspices the 
operation of the law was sure to be what it had 
been, and what, no doubt, the crafty governor 
intended it should be, — solely in favour of such 



* Ste Smith's Hist, pages l?»7~~X43—and Chris. Ma£. 



THE CHURCH. 



clergymen ; and thus the Episcopal church was 
eatablished and supported for near a century, in 
the counties above mentioned. 

Before this law was enacted, the Dutch Church 
was by far the most distinguished of any in the 
colony. In numbers, in wealth, in respectability, 
it unquestionably occupied the first place ; but as 
soon as the Episcopal church was made so pro- 
minently an object of government-favour, it lost 
some supporters, as a natural consequence of the 
inducements then held out to defection; and a 
character and reception were at once, by that 
means, in connexion with others employed for the 
same purpose, secured to the English language 5 
which, in their influence, in process of time, produ- 
ced a considerable change in its relative situation, 
and for a while, indeed, very seriously affected its 
peace. — To cultivate an acquaintance with this 
language, soon became necessary and fashionable 
among the people ; and it is not improbable, that a 
view to the object, prompted several at first to frer 
quent the Episcopal Church, who afterwards found 
it convenient to connect themselves fully with that 
Church. 

The civil courts performed their business in the 
English language :— English families multiplied : — 
English schools were established : — the trade with 



100 



THE CHURCH. 



English merchants increased : — a friendly inter- 
course with the adjacent English provinces was 
maintained intermarriages with the English 
inhabitants occasionally took place ; and all these 
circumstances, in united operation, soon brought 
the language greatly in vogue. 

Such was its predominance after the lapse of 
some years, that many of the young people, par- 
ticularly in the city of New- York, who had grown 
up in the constant use of it, could no longer sit with 
profit under Dutch preaching, and, therefore, de- 
sired that it might be adopted in the public wor- 
ship of God. — Unwilling to leave the Church of 
their fathers,— the Church in which they had been 
baptized, and to which, for that and other reasons, 
they felt much attached, — they ventured to urge, 
pretty strongly, the propriety and necessity of a 
substitution of the English for the Dutch language 
in the Church service. 

This request produced contention in the Church 
of New-York, which was not without its mischiev- 
ous effects, and was of no short duration. 

" The Dutch congregation," says the forecited 
historian,* " is more numerous than any other, but 



* See Smith's Hist. p. 291 



THE CHURCH. 



m 



as the language becomes disused, it is much dimi- 
nished ; and, unless they change their worship into 
the English tongue, must soon suffer a total dissi- 
pation." 

Some respectable families had already left it on 
account of the language, and united with other 
Churches : but still, so infatuated were many, es- 
pecially of the aged part of the Church, with the no- 
tion, that its very existence depended upon the 
continuance of the language, that the request now 
made was received with indignation, and resisted to 
the utmost. 

They feared that the proposed suppression of 
the language, if effected, would necessarily involve, 
in time, the loss of the doctrines, the mode of wor- 
ship, the government, the very name of the Church : 
and there is reason to believe, that the opposition 
to it was fomented by the interference of the Dutch 
ministers, who, as they could not officiate in the 
English language, were not a little uneasy at the 
prospect of its introduction. The opposition as- 
sumed, at length, a malignant and violent aspect, 
which induced more of the congregation, that had 
no relish for scenes of animosity and discord, to go 
over to other Christian societies ; and at this im- 
portant juncture, when it was evident that some 



102 



THE CHURCH, 



thing must be done to gratify the friends of a 
change, and also, if possible, to terminate the un- 
happy dispute, or the congregation " suffer a total 
dissipation," — the Consistory resolved to call a mi- 
nister to preach in the English language. 

This was a decisive measure, — a measure teem- 
ing with the most momentous consequences to 
the future welfare of the Church, — almeasure which, 
though it had to encounter a warm and determined 
hostility, was agreed upon with singular moderation 
and prudence. The Consistory had been accused 
of unfriendliness to the Dutch Church, in medita- 
ting such a measure, or in showing any disposition to 
favour the views of the English party ; and, as they 
knew that there were English Churches in some 
cities of the United Netherlands, in connection with 
the national Established Church,— to evince their 
attachment to the Church, and hoping by this means 
to restore peace, — they resolved, not merely to call 
a minister to preach in the English language, but to 
call one from Holland^ through the medium of the 
Classis of Amsterdam. Accordingly, they prepar- 
ed a blank call, and enclosed it in a letter to the 
Classis, requesting that the call might be properly 
filled up, and put into the hands of the individual 
whom that rev. body should deem qualified for the 
station. Upon the receipt of this letter, the Classis 



THE CHURCH. 



103 



very promptly complied with the request it con- 
tained, and sent the call to Mr. Archibald Laidlie t 
then a minister of the English Church, at Vlis- 
singen, (or Flushing), in Zealand, and a member of 
the Classis of Walcheren. 

A more judicious and happy selection could not 
have been made ; and it was made under the 
special guidance of the Great Head of the Church, 
as the event proved. 

Mr. Laidlie was a native of Scotland, and receiv- 
ed his education in the University of Edinburgh, 
In 1759, he settled at Flushing ; and, during his 
ministry in the Church of that place, which conti- 
nued a little over four years, he was highly esteem- 
ed for his enlightened and active zeal in the service 
of his Master — for his extensive attainments in 
theology and general literature — and for his warm 
attachment to all the doctrines of grace. He re- 
ceived and accepted the call from New-York, in 
Nov. 1763 ; and arrived at that city the latter part 
of the March following. A fortnight after his arri- 
val, April S5, 1764, having been duly recognized 
as one of the ministers of the Dutch Church, he 
preached his first sermon,— the first ever delivered 
in the English language in the Dutch Church — to a 
very crowded and devoutly attentive auditory- 



104 



THE CHURCH, 



The text was 2 Cor. 5. xi. Knowing the terror of the 
Lord, we persuade men, — The wishes of a large 
majority of the congregation were now accom- 
plished. — God, in mercy, had heard their prayers, 
and granted them English preaching ;— -and, what 
rendered the boon peculiarly gratifying, there was 
good evidence that the preacher, who had been sent 
to them, was truly a man after God's own heart. It 
was, therefore, a season of thanksgiving and praise 
in their habitations, long gratefully remembered. 

It has been said, and the anecdote is repeated, 
simply to show the warm and kindly feelings with 
which the ministrations of this eminent servant of 
Christ were regarded, that some pious aged per- 
sons gathered around him at the close of a prayer- 
meeting one evening, when he had been fervently 
addressing the Throne of Grace, and said to him, 
"Ah, Dominie ! we offered up many an earnest 
prayer, in Dutch, for your coming among us ; and 
truly the Lord has heard us, in English, and has 
sent you to us."* 

The venerable subject of this Memoir, in one 
of his private papers, thus speaks of Mr. Laidlie : 
" He was a very acceptable preacher ; bold and 



* Mag, of the Reformed Dutch Church, 



THE CHURCH. 



105 



authoritative, commanding respect, fear, and love. 
The wicked trembled when he announced the 
terrors of the Lord, while the lambs of the flock 
were nourished and comforted, when he displayed 
the grace, care, and faithfulness of their divine 
and good Shepherd. He was much delighted with, 
and attached to, the Church Catechism ; he had 
studied it with great diligence, and prepared excel- 
lent lectures upon every section of that precious 
standard of evangelical truths. By this study he 
became a learned and sound divine, and recom- 
mended himself greatly to the Church. In his 
labours, preaching, catechising and visiting the 
congregation, he was indefatigable. He was the 
first who was called expressly to preach English in 
the Dutch Church in America. A revival of reli- 
gion then commenced ; the Church prospered, 
and the blessing of the Lord was abundantly expe 
rienced under his ministry." 

The writer has often heard an aged saint, who 
recurred with evident satisfaction to the hours she 
had spent under the preaching, or catechetical 
instructions of this man of God, tell of the revival 
alluded to in the above extract ; and, from the 
representation given of it, it must have been a 
powerful and glorious work of the Spirit. From 

traditionary and other accounts, it appears, that 

14 



106 



THE CHURCH. 



Dr. Laidlie (now made a Doctor in Divinity by the 
College at Princeton) was a man not only of ardent 
piety and remarkable pulpit talents, but also of 
more than common discernment and prudence ; 
possessing precisely those qualities, the exercise of 
which, in his difficult situation, was indispensably 
necessary to the enjoyment of much comfort, or to 
extensive usefulness. 

Coming into the Church at a time when the 
collision of opinions and interests between the two 
great parties, the Ccetus and Conferentie, was at 
its height; and connected with a congregation, 
which was in a state of very excited dissension, in 
consequence of his settlement among them as an 
English preacher ', it behooved him to look well to 
his goings : and he did so look to them. He was 
plain and affectionate in all his deportment :-— He 
complied with the existing practice of the Church 
in the most trivial things : — He treated with the 
utmost respect the patrons of the Dutch language : 
—He studied peace ; and made it evident to all, in 
his public ministrations and private conversation, 
that his predominant desire was to win souls to 
Christ. It was his happiness, therefore, to enjoy, 
in a very high degree, the esteem and confidence 
of the congregation which he served, and of the 
Christian community at large . But beloved as was 



THE CHURCH* 



10? 



Dr. Laidlie, and successful as had been his minis- 
try, in the city, from the moment of its com- 
mencement, there still remained those, whom a 
blind and invincible attachment to the Dutch lan- 
guage, incited to a course of conduct exceedingly 
blame-worthy in itself, and ? in no small degree, 
vexatious to the Church. They were not to be 
reconciled to the innovation ; — nay, seemingly the 
more chagrined, the more popular it appeared to 
be, they were incessant in their efforts to obtain 
such a preponderance of their party in the govern- 
ment of the Church, or such a triumph over the 
Consistory in a civil suit, which had been instituted 
against that body for a supposed illegal act, a's 
would give them the power of exploding it. 

The nature of the suit alluded to, which, though 
commenced nearly two years before, was yet 
undecided, and which must be noticed a second 
and a third time in the succeeding pages, as invol- 
ving the final settlement of the question relative to 
the language, it is proper should be here briefly 
but distinctly stated. 

Soon after the blank call was sent to Holland, 
the principal opponents of the measure concerted 
among themselves a plan for turning out of office 
those that had given it their support, and putting 



108 



THE CHURCH. 



in men, who would endeavour, at once, to nullity all 
the proceedings in the case. In order to carry 
these designs, it was proposed that, at the next 
election, the members in full communion, a majority 
of whom they believed was on their side, should 
choose the new Consistory, in contravention to a 
long immemorial practice of the Church,— or, at 
least, assert their right to do so ; and, in the event of 
its being denied, immediately seek redress in a 
court of justice. Accordingly, in the ensuing Octo- 
ber, when the election was held, the right was 
claimed, in due form, by a Mr, Abel Hardenbrook^ 
who offered to vote upon the occasion. The vote 
was of course rejected, and that rejection was made, 
without any delay, the ground of a judicial process. 

The English language ought, in reality, to have 
been introduced into the Dutch church fifty years * 



* Dr. Livingston thought it should have been introduced an hun- 
dred years before. Mr. P.V. B. Livingston, a respectable relative 
of his, in a letter dated Feb. 1769, writing on the subject says — • 
u Had this been done in this city, thirty years ago, the Dutch 
congregation would have been much more numerous than it is 
now. The greatest part of the Episcopal Church consists of 
accessions they have made from the Dutch Church." He adds, 
—that though the Dutch was his mother tongue — the first lan- 
guage he had been taught, and was still spoken by him with ease 
~*-he could not understand a Dutch sermon half as well as he 
could an English one, and that as for his children — " there was 
notions that understood a sentence in Dutch." 



THE CHURCH. 



109 



sooner than it was ; and would have been introdu- 
ced, if the future prosperity of the church had been 
properly consulted. And, though the fathers of the 
Church, some of whom were truly pious and ex- 
cellent persons, were excusable for opposing the 
change, prior to the adoption of any measures to 
settle an English preacher, honestly believing that 
it would lead, if tried, to deplorable results, — it 
may seem strange, that after a call was actually 
sent to Holland, they should try to break down an 
old established custom, and show such a determined 
purpose to maintain the stand they had taken ;— 
or that, apart from other motives, which ought to 
have had some influence upon them, the spiritual 
welfare of their children, who understood, as was 
admitted, very little of Dutch sermons, did not 
constrain them to acquiesce, without even a mur- 
mur, in the decision of the constituted authority of 
the Church. But, the conduct of the best of men 
is sometimes unaccountably inconsistent with the 
principles they profess : and great allowance must 
certainly be made for such folly, — as prejudice, not 
reason, governs them ; and there are ever those, 
whose interest prompts them to take advantage of 
the prejudice of others, to inflame their passions, 
and to provoke them to deeds which, it requires 
no prophetic ken to foresee, will issue in shame and 
regret. 



CHAPTER IV. 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO HIS THEOLOGICAL 
STUDIES, AND TO THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 

The state of the Dutch Churcn in America, at the 
time when Mr. Livingston thought of entering upon 
the study of Divinity (exhibited in the last chapter), 
was not such, it must be confessed, as was likely 
to excite in him the least inclination to become one 
of her ministers. The great schism that existed, 
the hatred and turmoil so prevalent in consequence, 
the difficulty of obtaining ordination, his ignorance 
of the language then used in divine service in every 
part of the Church, excepting only a single congre- 
gation — for, owing to the education he had received, 
he was not at all familiar with it, — these were dis- 
couragements which, it is natural to imagine, would 
have determined him, without hesitation, to join 
some other denomination of Christians. — But he 
did hesitate, notwithstanding : and he decided, even- 
tually, to continue in the Church. 

And, let no one suspect there was any bigotry in 
this decision. There was some^magnanimity, but 



CIRCUMSTANCES, &C. Ill 

no bigotry in it. His heart glowed with Christian 
charity. He detested the spirit that regards any 
ecclesiastical line of demarcation as the boundary, 
beyond which the operations of saving grace 
must necessarily cease, — or that blind zeal, which 
debars from a participation in the benefits of salva- 
tion, all who are without the pale of a particular 
Church. — He believed that the exercise of that 
faith in Christ, which is the effect of a divine influ- 
ence upon the heart, and not the mere fact of be- 
longing to a Church, however pure its doctrines, or 
primitive its government might be, secured heaven 
to a sinner ; and, therefore, that all of every name, 
having that faith, and worshipping in spirit and truth, 
were of the number of God's precious people, and 
would be saved. — Still, as he observed some differ- 
ence in the distinctive peculiarities of the several 
denominations, whose standards included substan- 
tially the same articles of faith, he deemed it proper, 
before making any positive arrangements for his 
future studies, to satisfy himself which Church 
was, in every respect, the most comformable to the 
model presented in the word of God, and in which 
he would have the fairest prospect of usefulness, 
The inquiry was one of great importance ; and 
the result showed, that he had sought in it only the 
testimony of a good conscience. Those very cir- 
cumstances, which almost any other youth similarly 
situated, would have viewed as conveying in the 



112 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

aggregate, a command of Providence to leave the 
Dutch Church, he viewed as laying him under an 
obligation, in some measure, to remain in it ; or so 
far from having a discouraging effect, they had, on 
the contrary, a powerful influence in producing the 
resolution which he finally adopted. This fact 
ought to be known in the Church.— In the manu- 
script, from which extracts have already been 
made to some extent, he thus relates the reasons 
of this preference. 

"When the main question respecting my en- 
gagement in the ministry was decided, another 
of no small magnitude arose, upon which it was 
necessary, with caution and good conscience, to 
determine. This was, to what denomination of 
Christians duty prompted an attachment, or in 
which Church I ought to minister. The Episco- 
palian, Presbyterian, and Dutch, were the only 
three among which a selection was to be made. 
In regard to the Episcopalians. I considered them as 
very respectable, and supposed their doctrines, as 
expressed in their articles of faith and liturgy, to be 
sound and excellent ; but I was under the impres- 
sion that those doctrines were not cordially main- 
tained, certainly not generally preached by the 
ministers of that Church, and that I could not, there- 
fore 5 hold a cheerful communion with them. Be= 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES* ll& 

sides, their ceremonies, repetitions, and what I 
thought to be an unmeaning and improper parade 
in worship, lessened my admiration for them: 
while their popish bigotry in favour of a monarchi- 
cal government of their Church, with their frivo- 
lous affectation of superiority above other denomi- 
nations, to whom, in many respects, they were vast- 
ly inferior, exceedingly disgusted me. To their 
own master I left them, but I did not wish to join 
them." 

"In the Presbyterian Church, I had been often 

instructed and edified. Their doctrines were pure, 

and their preaching was evangelical and practical, 

Their mode of worship appeared to be consistent 

with the spirituality, simplicity, and dignity of the 

New Testament Dispensation : and their form of 

government was founded upon that principle of 

equality which the Lord Jesus established among 

the ministers of his Church, I could have joined 

the Presbyterian Church with great freedom, and 

would have done so, had not motives occurred 

which induced me to prefer the Dutch Church 

My parents were members, in full communion, of 

the Reformed Dutch Church ; I was baptized in 

that Church, and thus a member of it, although 

not yet in full communion ; and, in my estimation, 

the doctrines, worship, and government, of the 

15 



114 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



Church, were pure and evangelical. This decided 
the inquiry, and convinced me, that as I already 
belonged to a Church, which was equal in its purity 
to any in the world, it was my duty to remain in it, 
and consecrate my future service in that connexion 
and denomination," 

" There was another motive, which impercepti- 
bly yet powerfully inclined me to this determina- 
tion. An unhappy schism and controversy had, for 
several years, subsisted in the Dutch Churches in 
America, which, unless soon suppressed, threatened 
the annihilation of that whole denomination. The 
precise grounds of the dispute, or the best means 
for reconciling the contending parties, I had not 
then completely surveyed. The existing facts, 
however, were notorious and afflictive ; and I un- 
derstood enough to convince me of the inevitable 
ruin which was impending, and must soon be ex- 
perienced, if those dissensions were not healed. 
For the restoration of peace and prosperity in this 
distinguished portion of the Lord's vineyard, I felt 
an ardent desire ; and it was powerfully impres- 
sed upon my mind, that God would render me, 
however unworthy and unfit for that arduous work, 
an instrument in his hand to compromise and heal 
these dissensions, and raise the reputation, and 
establish the dignity and usefulness of the Dutch 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 116 

Church in America. In what way these great ob- 
jects were to be effected, or how the Lord would 
prepare, and afterwards employ me, for that pur- 
pose, I did not know, nor did this excite any diffi- 
dence or uneasiness. The point was settled in 
my mind, and I was fully persuaded it would be 
accomplished. This removed all further hesitation, 
and fixed my determination to abide in my own 
Church. The posterior dealings of Divine Provi- 
dence, and the gracious fulfilment of my expecta- 
tions, have afforded me abundant evidence that my 
choice has been crowned with the divine approba 
tion." 

The impression which it appears he had, that 
he would be made in some way instrumental in 
restoring peace to the church, and which was so 
strong as to fix his determination to abide in it, some 
probably would pronounce — " the baseless fabric 
of a vision," — or a mere whim of self-importance ; 
but it was neither, and a single remark will be 
sufficient to make this evident, without adverting 
to the result.— It would have been little less than 
perfect idiocy in him, if under the influence of am- 
bition and conceit, to have selected for pursuit an 
object of such precarious attainment ;■ — something 
more obviously practicable,— something environed 
with fewer difficulties, and not quite so contingent 



ilk) CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

in its nature would have been aimed at. He would 
rather have fixed his eyes upon the plain pathway 
to comfort, usefulness, and honourable distinction, 
then presented in either the Presbyterian or Epis- 
copal Church. The impression, it is believed 
therefore, was from God ; and the determination he 
formed, was, all things considered, an evidence 
of genuine humility, and of a sincere desire to pro- 
mote the divine glory in the work to which he was 
about to devote himself. The jeering sciolist may 
smile, if he pleases, at the sentiment just express- 
ed ; and even some rational Christians may not be 
altogether pleased with it. The fact, however, is in- 
disputable, that an extraordinary impulse has often 
given rise to a series of conduct, which was con- 
nected in the last result with some important event 
or events, and these showed such impulse to have 
proceeded from a special interposition of God. 

Mr. Livingston having now (in the spring of 
1765,) in a good measure, recovered his health, 
occupied much of his time in reading historical, 
poetical, and other works, calculated to improve 
him in general and polite literature. Among the 
authors that engaged his attention was the celebra- 
ted Shakspeare ; but he had no relish for dramatic 
writings, or theatrical performances. And it will 
not be amiss, perhaps, though it be a slight infringe - 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 117 

ment of the continuity of the present narrative, to 
insert here his sentiments upon the subject of the 
Theatre. They are exceedingly just — and to some 
who may happen to peruse these pages, they may 
administer some seasonable and salutary counsel. 
The Theatre is a place to which it is but too fa- 
shionable for persons of every age to resort ; and, as 
a certain Poet once expressed himself— 

' 1 It is a golden, but a fatal circle, > 
" Upon whose magic skirts a thousand devils, 
il In crystal forms, sit, tempting innocence, 
44 And beckon early virtue from its centre." 

"I was early convinced," he says, "that the 
Theatre, whatever modifications it might promise, 
and how innocent soever it might prove to some, 
who, burdened with business, seek a relaxation at 
the playhouse, was, in fact, in its very scope 
and natural influence, the nursery of vice, and 
ruinous to youth : — that it produced dangerous 
temptations ; dissipated the mind from serious exer- 
cises ; and, in its whole apparatus of show, drapery, 
noise, and insinuating scenes, was inimical to that 
rigid virtue, that strict industry, and those sober 
and prudent sentiments and habits, which every 
youth ought to study and maintain. I was confi- 
dent that the frequent, and vain, and wicked invoca- 
tion of the Divine name; the irreligious, indelicate 



118 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



and even obscene insinuations ; the avowed pro- 
vocatives to unsanctified passions ; and, at best, the 
vulgar and foolish subjects with which the Drama, 
especially the Comic, abounds, render it unworthy 
the approbation of a well-informed, and especially 
of a pious mind, and wholly improper to be honour- 
ed with the presence and countenance of a real 
Christian. He whose heart is renewed, who loves 
a holy God, and trembles at his word, who is de- 
voted to the Saviour that died to redeem him from 
a world which lieth in wickedness, and who prays 
daily to be kept from temptation, will not go to 
the playhouse. Unconverted men, even those 
who have the form of godliness but are destitute of 
its power, may think it strange that the Lord's 
people do not run with them to the same excess of 
dissipation and amusements. But, if it should ever 
please God to bring those men to a correct know- 
ledge of their own vile and deceitful hearts, and 
make them anxious to be saved from their sins, 
through a crucified Redeemer, they will readily 
know and acknowledge that a playhouse is inimi- 
cal to their devotion, and fatal to their peace. They 
will cordially unite with all sincere penitents in dis- 
approving the Theatre ; and, without being swayed 
or overawed by the interested or deluded sons of 
pleasure, will pronounce the playhouse to be the 
most pernicious institution that exists in civilized 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 



119 



and polished society. They will condemn it as the 
greatest enemy to the religion of the Holy Jesus, 
and wonder that it is suffered to prevail, or meets 
with patrons, in nations who are called after the 
name of Christ." 

" My early aversion to the Theatre has increas- 
ed and been corroborated by painful observation. 
I have known several hopeful youths of respectable 
connections, who might have been an honour to their 
families, and a blessing to the community, to be 
totally ruined by their early attachment to the play- 
house. Their corruption commenced with their 
attendance at the Theatre. There they formed an 
acquaintance with low and unworthy characters ; 
there, under its baneful influence, they grew indo- 
lent and dissipated, impatient of study and close 
application to any business ; and, in the issue, they 
became some of them insipid and useless drones 
and coxcombs, many of them final victims to in- 
temperance, and all of them a grief to their parents." 

The truth of this testimony to the pernicious 
effects of theatrical exhibitions, will not be called in 
question by any who were acquainted person- 
ally with the witness, or know the pure and 
elevated character he sustained; — and it is earnestly 
desired that it may prove the means of turning the 



120 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

feet of some from a house which is the way to he% 
going down to the chambers of death. 

To return to the narrative. — Mr. Livingston, it 
was stated, as soon as he found himself convales- 
cent, to increase his stock of general knowledge, 
engaged in a pretty extensive course of reading. 
Nothing occurred after this worthy of particular 
notice, till he had his first interview with the excel- 
lent Laidlie, which took place some time in the 
following summer, and proved the commencement 
of a cordial, unreserved, and lasting intimacy 
between them. At this interview, it is presumed, 
he disclosed his purpose to consecrate himself to 
the ministry of reconciliation. Whether the dis- 
closure was made then, or afterwards, the good 
Doctor, knowing the labours connected with the 
sacred employment, and perceiving his young 
friend to be in feeble health, rather at first seemed 
to doubt as to the advice it would be proper for 
him to give in the case ; but he did not doubt long. 
Mr. Livingston soon convinced him that the purpose 
was not to be abandoned on the ground of the 
present state of his health, that he had fully made 
up his mind to attempt the prosecution of it, leaving 
the event with God — and, at the same time, cherish- 
ing a confident hope that health would be given, and 
whatever else he might need. Upon the appearancp 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES 12! 

of such'piety, and zeal, and trust in God, Dr. Laidlie 
at once encouraged him to make the attempt, and 
suggested that it would be to his advantage to go 
to Europe, and to prosecute his theological studies 
in one of the celebrated Universities of Holland, 

The suggestion was received with due respect. 
He had wished to visit , that country, before this 
conversation took place, that he might attempt the 
removal of the grievances which had produced the 
unhappy breach in the churches here ; being per- 
suaded that if he could inform the ministers of Am- 
sterdam of the precise state of these churches, 
something would be done for their benefit; and 
now, that another inducement to go there was pre- 
sented, he thought, if there should be such a con- 
currence of circumstances, as to show him that Pro- 
vidence approved it, he would undertake the 
voyage. 

In July, he took the degree of master of arts ; 
and the succeeding winter, he spent in the city of 
New- York. The society of Dr. Laidlie, and other 
pious friends which he daily enjoyed ; the religious 
meetings he frequented ; the accurate and exten- 
sive knowledge he acquired of the affairs of the 
church during this season, rendered it both a plea- 
sant and useful winter to him, and the sojourn was 

16 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



highly necessary in reference to the important 
object in contemplation. 

Finding, in the spring, his health considerably 
improved, and his father having cheerfully consent- 
ed to his receiving a foreign education for the 
ministry, as also to defray all the charges which 
might attend it, * he resolved to cross the Atlantic, 
and prepared accordingly. 

On the twelfth of May, 1766, every suitable 
preparation being made, he bid adieu to relatives 
and friends, and set sail for Amsterdam. He was 
now within a few weeks of the twentieth year of 
his age; and his youth, his delicate health, the 
object which he had in view in venturing upon the 
voyage, and other circumstances, imparted to the 
event, in the eyes of many, a peculiar and touching 



* This is particularly mentioned, because it lias been said that 
he was aided in the prosecution of his theological studies by the 
Church of New- York. Alluding to the gratuitous assertion, he 
remarks, — "Whether the Dutch Church of New- York refunded 
what I had paid for my passage in the packet from England to 
America, when I came over upon their call, as is usual in such 
cases, I do not now distinctly recollect. If they did, it is, 
certainly, all that they or any others ever paid, for any expenses 
while I was abroad." As his father was abundantly able, and 
perfectly willing to discharge all expenses, there was no need of 
any assistance* 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 123 

interest. Some of the New- York congregation 
already cherished the hope that he would, at a pro- 
per time, return to labour among them in holy 
things. The intercourse of a few months had given 
them a favourable opinion of his piety and talents, 
and he departed with their fervent prayers to 
Heaven in his behalf. 

He had a tolerably pleasant voyage. That Al- 
mighty Being, who holds the winds in his fists, and 
the waters in the hollow of his hand, protected his 
young servant from dangers, and conveyed him 
safely to his particular destination. Once, indeed, 
the vessel, when sailing up the British Channel, 
was in quite a perilous situation. The captain had 
been unable, owing to cloudy weather, to take an 
observation for several days ; and, mistaking the part 
of the Channel where he was, unwittingly got on 
the coast of France, very near the shore. The 
danger, at the moment it was discovered that the 
vessel was upon the coast of France, of her being 
wrecked, was considerable ; but just then, a kind 
Providence sent a favourable wind, which wafted 
her in a few hours abreast of Dover. 

On the twentieth of June, or in thirty-nine days 
after leaving New York, he arrived at Amsterdam. 
The attentions he now received from the several 



124 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



individuals, to whom he had brought letters of re- 
commendation, were of the most gratifying kind. 
To Mr. J. Chabonell, on the Keyser's Graft, 
whose house, on his arrival, at the particular re- 
quest of that gentleman, he made his home ; to Mr. 
Daniel Crommelin and his sons ; to Mr. Van Haer- 
lingen ; and to Mr. Anthony Van Rensselaer, with 
whom he afterwards abode whenever he visited 
Amsterdam, he felt himself much indebted. The 
kindness of these generous Hollanders, especially 
of the family of Mr. Van Rensselaer, he could 
never forget. 

Almost immediately upon his arrival, he endea- 
voured to learn where he could most advanta- 
geously settle himself, to pursue his theological 
studies. This was naturally a primary subject of 
inquiry, as he had left his native land in quest of the 
best instructers ; and the information given him by 
the intelligent persons with whom he conversed, 
very soon determined the question in favour of the 
University of Utrecht. The universities of Ley den 
and Groningen had a high reputation ; but the pre- 
eminence in public opinion, he found, belonged to 
the one at Utrecht. Here was a man who, in the 
department of theology, had no compeer in the 
country — Professor G. Bonnet. For piety, elo- 
quence, and learning, he was decidedly the most 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 125 

distinguished professor in Holland ; and, when Mr. 
Livingston became satisfied of the fact, he did not 
hesitate to fix upon Utrecht as the place of his 
future residence. 

In all the Universities of Holland, it is customary 
to have a long vacation (from May to October), 
and it being now the season of the vacation, he 
■ did not proceed immediately to the University, but 
tarried a few weeks in Amsterdam, cultivating an 
acquaintance with a number of godly persons. 
The time was well spent. He was introduced 
into just such society as suited his taste — that of 
warm-hearted and intelligent Christians, and he 
derived from it important spiritual benefit. These 
strangers proved, indeed, helpers of his faith and joy. 
They received him with much Christian frankness 
and love, and their conversation was pleasing, 
spiritual, and instructive. — But it will readily be 
supposed that, unaccustomed to speak the lan- 
guage, he would be unable to maintain a conversa- 
tion in it. This was the fact at first. He had a 
friend, however, who could act the part of an in- 
terpreter, that accompanied him in his visits for a 
while ; and having often heard the Dutch spoken 
in America, he soon acquired a knowledge of it 
sufficient for -a little pious discourse. 



126 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



In a village called Tienhoven, not far from Am- 
sterdam, there lived a venerable servant of Christ, 
whose name was Schorelenburgh, greatly beloved, 
and much talked of as a person of more than ordi- 
nary experience in religion. He had been more 
than fifty years the minister of that place, and 
such was the respect in which his character was 
held that, from far and near, many who were asking 
the way to Zion, or walking in spiritual darkness, 
came to him for counsel. 

Mr. Livingston had a great desire to see this 
aged and celebrated disciple ; and, one day, Mr. 
Frans Van Haerlingen, the interpreting friend allu- 
ded to, went with him to Tienhoven, and introduced 
him to Mr. Schorelenburgh. — He was highly grati- 
fied with the excursion. — The judicious, agreeable, 
and affectionate conversation of the matured saint, 
who seemed prepared to depart at any moment, 
" with hands fastened on the skies, " had a happy 
influence upon his mind, and he left him with min- 
gled emotions of veneration and love, feeling that 
he had found a father, to whom in seasons of gloom 
and dejection he could freely repair for advice and 
comfort. 

At a suitable time, he went to Utrecht. Upon 
his arrival here, he was introduced to an American 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES l c 27 

gentleman* Mr. Henry Peterson, an established 
and respectable merchant of the city, who politely 
invited him to his house, and hospitably entertained 
him until he could provide himself with convenient 
lodgings. 

Professor Bonnet give him a very friendly recep- 
tion. This distinguished person, with official dig- 
nity, appears to have united great suavity of man- 
ners ; and his deportment to the young stranger 
was so condescending, so kind, so paternal, that 
it excited in him much filial affection and confi- 
dence. 

Mr. Livingston regarded his professor as a sin- 
cere friend, which he truly was ; and, having such 
a friend to consult, he evinced, at the very com- 
mencement of his university career, a prudence 
that is rarely met with in a youth but twenty years 
of age. He would form no intimacies ; — nay, he 
carefully avoided all advances made to him for ac- 
quaintance, until he had the advice of the Profes- 
sor, or knew from him the character of the persons 
who sought his company. This was a wise pre- 
caution. It had the effect which he desired it should 
have. It kept him a stranger to those whose com- 
panionship could not fail to injure the character of 
a stranger ; and it was the means of leading him 



128 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

into some of the most respectable society, both oi 
the city and of the university. The prudence dis- 
covered in this fact, constituted in after4ife, as all 
who knew him will acknowledge, one of his most 
prominent characteristics. 

While he was preparing to attend the lectures of 
the approaching session, a circumstance occurred, 
which, as it shows how the steps of a good man are 
ordered by the Lord, and how the smallest inci- 
dents, though deemed scarce worthy of notice tvhen 
they happen, are often subsequently, under the Di- 
vine blessing, connected with the richest and hap- 
piest experience of the Christian, must not be 
omitted. 

During his voyage and stay in Amsterdam, Mr. 
Livingston had enjoyed a very comfortable frame 
of mind. His spiritual exercises had been lively 
and pleasant, and he had cherished a confident 
hope that the Lord would preserve his health, and 
enable him to pursue, with vigor and diligence, the 
studies upon which he designed to enter. But, a 
short time previous to the commencement of the 
lectures, he became much dejected, owing to the 
return, with some severity, of the old pain in his 
breast. Finding himself again afflicted with a com- 
plaint, which had once menaced him with an early 



HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. 139 

death, and, apprehending its continuance, he be- 
gan to think that he would be compelled to aban- 
don his object, and to feel very sensibly the loneli- 
ness of his situation, in the midst of strangers. The 
depression of his spirits in consequence was very 
great ; and that he might open his heart to a friend, 
who would probably say something to comfort him., 
he determined to make another visit to the vener- 
able Schorelenburgh. Accordingly, he rode one 
day to Tienhoven. Soon after he had entered the 
good man's dwelling, and the usual salutations had 
passed between them, Mrs. Schorelenburgh, who 
was truly a mother in Israel, with an air that show- 
ed much affectionate solicitude, made some inqui- 
ries concerning the state of his health. He told 
her, in reply, that " he was in constant pain in his 
breast, with much weakness and dejection of spi- 
rits, and that he feared he had come three thou- 
sand miles from home in vain." Upon hearing 
this, the old lady rejoined, in a few pious and ap- 
propriate remarks, and then to close, giving him as 
she spoke a very earnest and impressive look, she 
said, — " Do you not know that your Lord Jesus is 
the physician of the body as well as of the soul ? 
Apply to him. Bring your body to him in prayer, 
and pray that he will heal you." He heard her 
with respectful attention, of course ; but there was 

nothing very striking at the moment in her counjr 

17 



ISO CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

sel. It, however, left an impression upon his mind ; 
and such, in a little while, were his exercises under 
its influence, that he found it necessary to take a 
premature leave of the excellent couple, and hasten 
back to Utrecht. As soon as he had returned, 
he entered into his closet, and approached the 
Throne of Grace. It was a solemn hour with him. 
The wrestlings of his soul with the Lord were pe- 
culiarly lively and strong, blended with the exercise 
of a good degree of filial confidence. He felt that 
he prayed in faith for the Lord to heal him ; and 
when he retired from the Throne, he had a com- 
fortable persuasion that his prayer was heard, 
" Nay," he says in his own recital of the interview, 
and of what followed it, " 1 believed that I was 
then healed, and my confidence was so strong, 
that I wrote immediately in the journal I kept, 
that my God had granted me my petition, and 
that I was actually healed, and would never be 
prevented by that pain in my breast, from prose- 
cuting my studies, or proceeding in my public 
work. And it has been so. To the praise of his 
truth, his grace, and his power, I record that he is 
the healer of the body as well as of the soul. He 
i$ the hearer of prayer." 

About the same time, he received a letter trom a 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 131 

much respected friend * in the city of New-York, 
detailing the proceedings which had taken place 
within the last year, relative to the introduction of 
English preaching ; — and leaving him to complete 
his arrangements for a university -life, the writer, 
presuming that no apology can be required for such 
an interruption of the tenor of the biography, — 
will conclude the present chapter with a brief 
account of the progress and termination of the con- 
troversy upon that subject.— The controversy 
between the Ccetus and Conferentie parties will 
also be again noticed in another place. 

It has been mentioned that a law-suit was com- 
menced against the Consistory of the Church of 
New- York, for rejecting the vote of a member of the 
Church at a consistorial election, held Oct. 1763, 
or rather for refusing to receive his suffrage. — This 
suit was undetermined yet in October, 1766. 

At the request of some neutral members of the 
Church, as a report was in circulation that the 
Dutch party had proposed, but without success, 
terms of reconciliation, which, however, had no 
foundation in truth, the Consistory met about the 
beginning of the month to consider whether any, 



* Abraham Lott, Esq. 



IBS CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

and if any, what means beyond those they had 
already tried, could be adopted to restore peace in 
the congregation. The result of the meeting was, 
the appointment of a committee to propose to Mr. 
H— , the person who had sued the Consistory, an 
amicable settlement of the pending litigation. 
This proposal was not accepted. He said, " the 
Church must be all Dutch, and not English : " and 
when asked what would become of the children 
who were unacquainted with the Dutch language, 
replied, " that they might go to the Church of Eng- 
land, or any where else." Failing in this overture, 
the Consistory authorized two of their body to have 
an interview with "Mr. Lefferts, an aged person 
highly respected by both parties and considered a 
neutral in the dispute, to inquire if he thought an 
accommodation could be effected, and assuring him 
of the earnest desire of the Consistory to do all in 
their power towards one, to request him to consult 
the leaders of the Dutch party upon the subject.; — 
The request was made, and complied with ; and it 
was understood that the party wished for a com- 
position of the difference ; but, upon inquiry, it was 
found that they had fixed upon terms as the basis 
of a reconciliation which were wholly inadmissible. 
The terms were substantially these : that they 
should have the government of the old Church, and 
retain all the property belonging to it ; that the 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 



133 



English preacher should not be present at any of 
the meetings of their Consistory ; that their Consis- 
tory should be a distinct body, with whose disci- 
pline and other matters, the Consistory of the New 
Church should have no right to interfere, and in 
whose election all those that communed with the 
English party, should have no voice ; that there 
should be English preaching but once on the Sab- 
bath in the New Church ; and, moreover, that when 
Dutch was preached in that house, the Dutch Con- 
sistory should occupy the pews appropriated to the 
elders and deacons. 

These propositions were considered unfair and 
humiliating. They were calculated, it was sup- 
posed, if acceded to, to produce a separation of 
the Churches ; or, rather, to effect ultimately the 
entire exclusion of Dr. Laidlie and the English 
service from the Dutch Church. And it was obvi- 
ous, that their acceptance would at once give to the 
party greater advantages than they could possibly 
acquire by gaming their suit in law, allowing it 
should be decided in their favour ; for, in that case, 
they woidd acquire only the right of voting indivi- 
dually, if members in full communion, for the offi- 
cers of the Church ; and being, with respect to such 
members, much weaker than the English party, 
the exercise of the right would avail nothing in 



134 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

reality. As the day for the election drew near, 
that they might then come forth in all their strength, 
in support of their favourite principle, or to claim 
the right in question, they industriously circulated 
a paper for subscription, which was so drawn up 
as to obligate every signer to appear upon the occa- 
sion, to make a tender of his vote, and if that vote 
should be refused, immediately to seek redress in 
a court of law. 

To defeat the purpose of this compact, which 
was to change finally the mode of election, another 
paper addressed to the Consistory, and praying 
them to adhere to the ancient practice of the 
Church, in the choice of their successors, was speed- 
ily prepared and handed about for signature. This 
petition was signed by a majority of the communi- 
cants of the church. It was in the following words : 

" To the Rev. and Worthy Consistory of the 
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the 
city of New- York. 

" The Petition and humble Request of us the un- 
derwritten, communicants of the said Church, shew- 
eth, — That the Petitioners have been credibly in- 
formed that several of the communicants of the said 
church intend, on the day appointed by the Charter 



THE CHURCH OP NEW-YORK. 



of the said church for electing Elders, Deacons, and 
Church-masters, to come and vote for Elders, Dea- 
cons, and Church-masters, contrary to the old inva- 
riable usage and custom of the said Church, before., 
and since obtaining the said charter : That we judge 
an election by the communicants as an infringement 
on the constitution of our church, and tending to 
raise heats, controversies, and animosities among 
the members thereof, contrary to that love and es- 
teem which ought to subsist among the professors 
of Christianity. Our earnest request and desire 
therefore is, that the Reverend and Worthy Con- 
sistory will by no means deviate from the old con- 
stitutional method of electing Elders ; Deacons, and 
Church-masters, but proceed therein as usual, not- 
withstanding any attempt contrary thereto, and we 
do hereby promise and engage personally to attend 
on the day aforesaid, at the old Dutch Church, there 
to agree to the election, nomination and appoint- 
ment, that shall be made by you, according to the 
usage and constitution aforesaid. We pray God to 
heal the unhappy breach in our church ; and are 3 
with great esteem, &c." 

The promise to attend and approve of the choice 
of the Consistory was made to leave their oppo- 
nents no room to cavil— to bar all possibilty of ex- 
ception 



136 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

In the hope that the controversy might yet be 
settled in a friendly way before the election, the 
Consistory adopted a paper, containing what were 
very justly styled Articles of Peace, which was 
submitted to the consideration of the Great Con- 
sistory ; and, being approved by that body, was 
put into the hands of the neutral father aforemen- 
tioned, (Mr. Abraham Lefferts,) to be by him laid 
before the Dutch party. Overtures so liberal as 
those now made, it was hardly to be supposed 
could fail of restoring peace. The preliminary ar- 
ticle required that Dr. Laidlie should be treated as 
one of the ministers of the Dutch Church, or be 
received into the fellowship and communion of the 
Church. Then followed an offer to pay the whole 
of the Doctor's salary by contributions from the 
English party; an offer to bind themselves and 
their successors to use, neither directly nor indirect- 
ly, any property which had been given for the 
support of the Dutch ministers, to maintain the 
English service ; an offer so to form the Consistory 
that the two parties should, in point of numbers, be 
equally represented in it — or, in other words, to 
choose out of twice the number of each class to be 
nominated by the Dutch party, four Elders, four 
Deacons, and two Church-masters, who, with the 
two Dutch ministers, would make its numeral re- 
presentation the same as that of the English party. 



THE CHURCH OF MW-YOKK. 137 

And but two very reasonable requests were made, 
besides the one already mentioned, to wit: that 
there should be a morning and evening service in 
the English language, in the New Church, every 
Sabbath ; and that the suit in law should be aban- 
doned.* These generous overtures, however., 
were rejected. 

On the fifteenth of the month, one day previous 
to that of the election, the Consistory was informed 
that the Dutch party had deputed certain persons 
to make some proposals, and a committee was ac- 
cordingly appointed to have an interview with these 
deputies. The interview took place in the even- 
ing of the same day, at the house of Mr. Gelyn 
Van Gelder ; but the proposals, which, from the 
circumstance of their being ten in number, as also 



* The paper contained three or four articles more, of minor 
importance, but of an equally pacific character with those stated 
above ; and the writer would observe further here, that, as all the 
propositions that passed between the parties, are given in Dutch, 
in Mr. Lott's letter, to obtain the sense of them, he has availed 
himself of the kindness of two worthy friends, well acquainted with 
the language. He trusts there is no material omission or inaccu- 
racy in the representation he has made ; and of the contents of 
any Dutch papers which he shall have occasion to use hereafter, 
or of so much of them as will be necessary to his immediate pur- 
pose, it will be his endeavour, with the assistance of the friends 
referred to, to present a fair account, 

18 



iss 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



from the air of authority running through them, 
were afterwards pleasantly called by the other 
party " Ten Commandments" as they contained 
offensive insinuations, as well as unreasonable de- 
mands, tended rather to widen than to heal the 
breach. The deputies were informed the next 
day, that the Consistory could not agree to them. 

Before the hour fixed for the important contest 
had arrived, nearly all the communicants, of both 
parties, were assembled in the Old Church, with a 
considerable company of strangers, or persons of 
other denominations, who had come, as they said, 
" to behold the Dutchmen quarrel together." 

The Consistory now made yet one more attempt 
to produce a reconciliation. They tendered anew 
the "Articles of Peace" and endeavoured, for some 
time, to prevail upon their opponents to accede 
to them ; but their efforts proved fruitless. These 
misguided, or mis-judging brethren, were inflexible 
to the last moment. After the election was over, 
the names of those who would constitute the new 
Consistory, were publicly read, and (before two 
notaries public, present by request, to note the 
transactions of the day,) the members of the church 
were asked, if they approved of the choice of the 
Consistory, and of continuing the old mode of elec- 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 



139 



tion ; and a majority was at once discovered, in fa- 
vour of both, of more than one hundred and thirty. 

This was a signal triumph; but the discomfitted 
party were still very unwilling to yield. Chagrined 
at the result of this proceeding, which completely 
precluded the opportunity they had sought and 
expected, of disputing the legality of the election, 
and of suing the Consistory, they put into the hands 
of the Rev. Mr. De Ronde, the minister that presi- 
ded upon the occasion, and their great friend and 
champion,* a paper naming certain persons for 
Elders, Deacons, and Church-masters. As |foi§ 
paper was not addressed to the Consistory, the^^R 
course, paid no attention to it ; but, after their busi- 
ness was concluded, the rev. gentleman too^ 
notice of it, and invited those who thought they h|§ 
a right to vote, to come forth. The invitation, how- 
ever, they being by this time either ashamed of 
their cause, or convinced that for them to make 
any election would only expose them to ridicule, 
was not obeyed. No one offered to vote. 

The important law-suit, it was now expected, 



* Mr. De Ronde pursued a course of conduct throughout the 
controversy which was much blamed, and made him many ene- 
mies. His colleague, the Rev. Mr. Ritzema, was more pru- 
dent, and uniformly acted as the friend of the English party. 



140 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



would be shortly decided ; and the appellant in the 
matter, with his friends, confident of gaining it? 
judged it necessary to present, in season, a protest 
against the late election, supposing probably that 
this measure would put it in their power to set the 
same entirely aside, as soon as the decision antici- 
pated should be obtained. Before, therefore, the 
Elders, Deacons, and Church-masters elect, were 
inducted into their respective offices— that is, on 
the Friday immediately preceding the Sabbath ap- 
pointed for the performance of the ceremony, the} 
laid before the Consistory a paper called a Protest. 
and superscribed to the Unlawful Consistory, in 
which they declared that the election had been 
conducted contrary to the Word of God, to the 
Charter, and to Church Orders* This paper was 
treated with the contempt it deserved ; and the 
very next day, to the no little mortification of the 
whole Dutch party, the suit was determined in fa- 
vour of the Consistory.^ A determination so un- 



* The protesters were " Abel Hardenbrook, William Elsworth. 
Teunis Tiebout, Johannis Hardenbrook, Henderecus Brevoort." 

f Three of the judges, Messrs. Jones, Smith, and Livingston, 
were in favour of the Consistory; one, Mr. Horsmanden, was in 
favour of Mr. Hardenbrook. The reader will probably be grati- 
fied to see an abstract of this important trial. It is given from a 
^opy which was made and duly authenticated, for the use of the 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK- 



141 



looked for, and obliging the plaintiff to pay costs 
to the amount of about three hundred pounds, as 
will readily be supposed, very soon allayed the 



late Dr. Westerlo, of Albany, and his Consistory. Mr Theodore 
Van Wyck, of New- York, the gentleman who procured the copy 
for Dr. W. observes in the letter which accompanied it, that the 
arguments or pleadings in the cause occupy no less than forty- 
eight pages, (folio) written in a small hand. The counsel for 
the plaintiff, were the King's attorney, Mr. Duane and Mr. Kis- 
sam ; — and " the chief of their arguments was, that the members 
had a right to vote by" the " Charter, and that, in depriving them 
of that privilege, the Consistory had forfeited their Charter." — 
The counsel for the defendants, were William Smith, Whitehead 
Hicks, William Livingston, and Mr. Scott, whose "arguments 
run upon the Constitution of the Church, and the invariable way 
of choosing Elders and Deacons. They proved by several emi- 
nent authorities, that if even a people had had a right to elect offi- 
cers by virtue of a Charter, ****** by suffering such officers 
by themselves to elect others for a long time, that the said people 
had forfeited and lost their right of voting. They likewise pro- 
ved, that in such a case the law supposed there might have been 
By-Laws made with consent of the people, to invest the election 
only in the Corporation, which law might be lost or forgot ; but, 
in either case, the people, by not annually attending the election, 
lost their privilege." 

" Abstracts of the Trial between Abel Hardenbrook, plaintiff) 
fin behalf oj the Dutch party so called,) and the Elders and 
Deacons of the JReformed Protestant Dutch Church oj the 
city of Neiv-York, defendants, commenced upon the said 
Elders and Deacons refusing the other members of the said 
Ckwrch" a " vote for Church officers. 



142 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

zeal for continuing the quarrel in a court of justice ; 
and it did more ; — it went far to subdue the quarrel 
itself. Those who had been most averse to the 

" Supreme Court in the city of .New-York, 
" April Term, Friday 26, 1765. 

" At eleven of the clock in the morning came on the trial of Abel 
Hardenbrook, plaintiff, against John Bogert, Esq. and others, de- 
fendants, when the following jury, out of the panel which was 
struck the 19th inst, appeared upon call, and were sworn to try 
the cause, viz: — 

Samuel Verplanck, Thomas White, 

John Starrf Cruger, John Shoals, 

David Clarkson, William Bedlow, 

Robert Griffen, John Provoost, Esq. 

Lawrence Kortright, Lewis Paintard, 

Beverly Robinson, Walter Rutherford. 

"After a trial of twenty-one hours, in the course of which many 
evidences were examined, the judge gave the following charge," 
(omitted) " to the jury, to bring in a special verdict upon matters 
of law, to be determined by solid argument before the court, but 
recommended to find three matters of fact upon evidence, viz : — 

" 1st. That the plaintiff had made a lawful demand of his vote 
by Jacobus Stoutenburg. 

" 2d. That the majority of the members assembled on that 
day, appeared to have been on the side of the plaintiff to vote. 



" 3d. That the minister of the Dutch Church had a vote iti the 
election for Elders and Deacons. 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 



143 



authority and measures of the Consistory, gradu- 
ally became more tame, while the Consistory, on 
the other hand, showed a kind, conciliatory spirit, 



" All which the said jury brought in accordingly, as will appear 
by the following notes, which are exactly transcribed from a copy 
of Mr. Bangor, taken from the original verdict of the jury. 



" The jurors upon their oath, on the trial of the issue aforesaid, 
do find — 

" 1st, That King William the Third, by his letters patent, un- 
der the great seal of the province of New- York, bearing date the 
11th May, in the eighth year of his said Majesty's reign, in the 
year of our Lord 1696, did grant unto the Minister, Elders, and 
Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the city 
of New- York— prout : 

"2d. That the Lieutenant-Governor, the Council, and Gene- 
ral Assembly of the province of New- York, by a certain act 
made and passed the 12th of December, 1753, entitled an act to 
enable the Minister, elders, and Deacons of the Reformed Pro- 
testant Dutch Church of the city of New- York, to sell and dis- 
pose of their lands, tenements, and hereditaments, in the county 
of West Chester, commonly called and known by the name of the 
Manor of Fordham, and also for granting unto them some farther 
liberties and privileges for the better management of their affairs, 
and the well ordering of their said church, did enact— prout : 



" Abel Hardenbrook against 
John Bogert, jun. Esq* and others, 



New-York Supreme Court. 
> Notes of special verdict. 



144 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



conceding all that could be reasonably asked ; and 
the Church, which had been for a long time a spec- 
tacle to surrounding denominations, put on conse- 



" 3d. That his late Majesty King George the Second, by his 
confirmation under seal, dated 25th February, 1755, did confirm 
the said act — prout : 

"4th. That the defendants were the major part of the Elders 
and Deacons of the said Church in the city of New-York, on the 
third Thursday of October, 1763, one of the days of election of 
Elders and Deacons appointed by the said charter, and so, being 
Elders and Deacons, on that day were assembled at the said 
Church to proceed to an election of Elders and Deacons for the 
said Church for the then ensuing year, 

",5th. That the plaintiff, on the said Thursday of October. 
1763, and long before, was a member of the said Church and Cor- 
poration, duly admitted, and also a member in communion of the 
said Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, and an inhabitant of the 
said city of New-York ; and so being a member and inhabitant, 
did on the same day personally attend at the said Church, before the 
election, nomination, or appointment; did then and there demand 
and require of the defendants to permit him, the said plaintiff, to 
give his voice for electing Elders and Deacons for the said Church 
for the ensuing year, to be chosen pursuant to the said charter. 

" 6th. That the said defendants did then and there, upon such 
demand and requests so made, refuse to take, receive or allow 
the voice of the plaintiff to be given, and did then and there pre- 
vent, obstruct, and hinder the plaintiff from giving his vote at the 
said election, for the electing, nominating, or appointing the Eld- 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YOKK. 145 

quently, at length, a more pleasing and inviting 
appearance. 

ers and Deacons of the said Church for the year ensuing, or any 
of them. 

il 7th. That the said defendants did, then and there elect, no- 
minate, and appoint Elders and Deacons of the said Church for 
the year ensuing, the plaintiff being present at the said Church., 
without taking the plaintiff's vote in the said election, and without 
previously, or at any time that day, proposing or naming to the 
members or the plaintiff attending at the election, the persons 
nominated by the defendants for Elders and Deacons of the said 
Church for the ensuing year. 

"8th. That of the members in communion of the said Church, 
and inhabitants within the said city, then and there attending at 
the said Church, the majority attended to give their voices as mem- 
bers for electing the Elders and Deacons of the said Church foi 
the ensuing year." [The reason of this was, that the members, 
on the side of the Consistory, did not then attend in a body as they 
did the following year, to approve of the election.] 

" 9th. That the Dutch Churches in Holland are governed by 
the rules established in the national Synod of Dort, held in 1618 
and 1619. 

" 10th. That the said Synod of Dort, by the 22d article of the 
said rules, did establish— prout : 

li 1 1th. That the said Synod of Dort did at the same time esta- 
blish the national rule or confession of faith, the 31st article 
whereof is — prout : 

10 



146 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



That the reader may know what confidence was 
to be placed in the Communication, from which the 
facts presented in the foregoing statement have 



" 12th. That the usage of the Dutch Churches in Holland 
respecting elections of Elders and Deacons has long been for the 
Elders and Deacons, and every Minister present at their election 
to elect their officers by the majority of their voices, without the 
vote of the other members ; and not to propose the persons to be 
elected Elders and Deacons to the members of the Churches res- 
pectively before, nor at the time of the election, nor until the 
Sunday next following such election, when it is the usage to pub- 
lish their names to the respective congregations, and on the two 
next succeeding Sundays ; — each Sunday calling on the people 
to object against their being admitted and confirmed, if they have 
cause 5 and the usage also is, that if any good objection be made 
and supported, the Elders and Deacons so objected to, are not 
admitted to the office ; but the Consistory judge of the validity 
of the objections, and if they conceive them sufficient, proceed 
to a new election. 

4 4 13th. That if no objections be made by the members, by the 
third Sunday after the elections, the Elders and Deacons so cho- 
sen, are confirmed in and admitted to their respective offices, and 
that they are not Elders and Deacons until such confirmation and 
admission. 

" 14th. That the usage and practice with regard to the propo- 
sing, confirmation, and admission, objecting against and setting 
aside of Elders and Deacons respectively, in the said Dutch 
Church at New- York, has hitherto been conformable to the usage 
md practice of the Churches of Holland last mentioned, and that 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK 



147 



been taken, the following brief extract from a letter 
of Dr. Laidlie to Mr. Livingston, dated November 
3d, is inserted for his perusal : 



the Elders and Deacons of the said Church in New-York, agree- 
able to the regulations of the Churches of Holland above-mention- 
ed, are not admitted to their respective offices until such propo- 
sal, made for three successive Sundays after their election, and 
confirmation thereupon. 

" 15th. That this province was conquered by the Dutch, and 
afterwards, in — — , was yielded by treaty to the crown of Eng- 
land. 

" John Bogert, jun. and others, I 
Ads. Abel Hardenbrook. ] 

"And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do further 
say, that the province of New- York is part of the country former- 
ly called New Netherlands, and was, before the surrender of the 
same to the crown of England, subject to the States General of 
the United Provinces in Europe, and was settled by subjects t© 
the States General. 

"2d. That antecedent to the said surrender, there were 
Churches in the said province, and that all the Churches in the 
same were supplied with ministers from the United Provinces of 
the national established Church 'there, sent out by and subject to 
the ecclesiastical government of the Classis of Amsterdam. 

" 3d. That the Churches of the national establishment of the 
said United Provinces in Europe, and especially those within the 
district of the said Classis, have always had a succession of Elder? 



148 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



" Thanks be to our blessed Lord, for all that 
experience he has given you of his love and faith- 
fulness. Trust in him at all times ; none that trust 



and Deacons, chosen from time to time by the majority of the 
Elders and Deacons of the said Churches respectively, and Minis- 
ters present, without the voices of the other members of the same 
churches. 

" 4th. That the Dutch Churches in this country, antecedent to 
the said surrender, were governed in a manner conformable to 
the practice and usage of the national established Churches of the 
United Provinces in Europe, and the offices and places of the 
Elders and Deacons of the same have always been, upon every 
vacancy and avoidance, supplied by the election, nomination and 
appointment of the majority of the Elders and Deacons in office, 
without the voices of the other members of the same. 

"5th. That the same government, usage, and practice, was 
continued from the said surrender, in the Dutch Church of the 
city of New-York, until the same was incorporated by the letters 
patent above-mentioned. 

s <6th. That for above sixty years~past, after the grant of the 
said letters patent of incorporation, there had been a constant 
succession of Elders and Deacons in the said Church, so incorpo- 
rated, chosen by the majority of the Elders and Deacons of the 
same Church for the time being, without the voices of any of the 
other members of the same, in the nomination and appointment 
of Elders and Deacons. 

« 7th. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do 
farther find the articles of capitulation at the surrender of this 
province in the year 1664 — prout; 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK. 



149 



in Him shall be ashamed. I am truly glad you 
have settled at Utrecht, and that you find Professor 
Bonnet a gentleman so much to your mind. I had 



" 8th. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do 
farther say, that, according to the constitution and directions of 
the Reformed Churches in Holland, approved and instituted by 
the national Synod of Dort, the Eiders and Deacons of the said 
Churches do, with the Ministers present, annually nominate and 
appoint the next succeeding Elders and Deacons, without the 
consent, approbation, voice or election, of any of the other mem- 
bers of the said Churches, then had in the said nomination and 
appointment. 

u 9th. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do 
farther say, that the plaintiff in this action, since the date of the 
said charter, has been nominated and appointed three several 
times to the respective offices of Elder and Deacon of the said 
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the city of New- York, 
by the then present Elders and Deacons of the said Church, with- 
out the consent, approbation, voice, or election of any of the 
other members of the said Church, then had in the said nomina- 
tion and appointment, which respective offices he did accept of, 
and act in the execution of; and that he has, since the date of 
the said charter or letters patent, at three several times nomina- 
ted and appointed, together with the Elders and Deacons of the 
said church, then in office with him, and without such consent, 
approbation, voice or election as aforesaid of the other members 
of the said church to succeed in said respective offices 

" 10th. And the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid, do 
farther say, that it was the practice, usage, and custom of the 



i 



150 



CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 



proceeded far in another letter for you, and begun 
an historical account of Church affairs since you left 



Reformed Protestant Dutch Churches in the United Netherlands, 
before and at the time of the said articles of surrender, and of the 
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the said letters patent of 
incorporation mentioned, ever since until the day of the exhibi- 
tion of the plaintiff's bill, for the respective Ministers for the 
time being of the said Churches, on the three Sundays next suc- 
ceeding every respective nomination and appointment of the 
Elders and Deacons of the said respective Churches, to notify and 
declare such nomination and appointment to the several congre- 
gations in which the said Elders and Deacons were respectively 
nominated and appointed, in order to know whether any of the 
members of the said Churches do dissent from or disapprove of 
such nomination and appointment, and in default of such dissent 
and disapprobation, to set apart, confirm, and ordain such Elders 
and Deacons in and to their respective offices. 

" If the law is for the plaintiff, we find for the plaintiff, and 
five pounds ten shillings damages. 

" If the law is for the defendants, we find for the defendants. 
Filed 26th April, 1765. 

New- York, April 1765. 
" The preceding, wrote on eight pages in folio, is a true copy 
of the original special verdict given in the cause — Abel 
Hardenbrook, against John Bogert, jun. and others. 

Examined by — . 

Signed— Geo. Banyard, D. C. C. C." 

(Copy.) 



THE CHURCH OP NEW-YORK. 



151 



us ; but having heard that this was the province of 
our friend, A. Lott, and he having shown me a very 
particular journal of every thing worthy your hear- 
ing on this subject, I dropt it. But I cannot omit 
calling upon you to bless the Lord with us, and to 
exalt his holy name, for the remarkable interposi- 
tion of his kind providence in the behalf of his 
cause and people. How many proofs of his being 
the hearer and answerer of prayer." 

But it must not be understood from any tiling 
said above, that the congregation was brought at 
once into a state of perfect harmony and peace. It 
was not to be expected that all opposition would 
instantly cease ; and though such as had been the 
most openly and violently hostile, were a good deal 
humbled by what had now occurred, yet they still 
cherished a vindictive temper ; and having failed in 
law, tried, for awhile, other means of annoying the 
friends of English preaching. One of the pitiful 
means employed for the purpose, was the invention 
and circulation of little stories tending to vilify or 
injure the character of the excellent Laidlie : and 
of this unworthy conduct, he thus speaks in another 
letter to Mr. Livingston, of a later date : — "Not- 
withstanding, blessed be God, I have of late felt 
more of that comfortable stayedness of trust and 
establishment of heart, than I ever felt before ; and 



152 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

in this, I observe not only the great goodness of 
my Lord and Master to my soul, in the way of edi- 
fication or upbuilding in the divine life ; but that 
this fills and prepares me for storms, and supports 
me under the reproach and calumny thrown out 
against me on every side. The great disappoint- 
ment the Dutch party have met with, instead of 
reclaiming them, has added fury to their rage ; — 
they think to revenge themselves upon me, though,, 
by their own confession, I am not the cause ; yet 
they find to reproach me is the surest way to vex 
my friends, who are so kind as never to mention 
these things to me, though all with whom I am 
obliged to converse have not that prudence, so that 
I must hear many a spiteful lie But, blessed be 
God, He not only keeps me from laying things to 
heart, but gives a meek, humble, forgiving temper 
of mind, so that I can pray for, and freely forgive 
the worst of my enemies among men. Though 
the Dutch party have now entirely given over 
coming to Church when I preach, and hear only 
Mr. De Ronde, whom they call their wettige predi- 
kant^ and whom I have reason to suspect to be at 
the bottom of their obstinate opposition ; — though 
he has begun of late to speak uncommonly favour- 
able of me and my sermons ; — though said party 



* Lawjul minister, 



THE CHURCH OF NEW-YORK, 



use every method to make me uneasy, yet Jesus 
makes me triumph, and enables me to rest in Him. 
only desiring to be found faithful — and in all things 
to approve myself to him in well-doing. I have 
enlarged too much on this." 

In spite of all they could say or do, Dr. Laidlie 
was beloved and useful, and the Church was in a 
prosperous state ; — nay, so much had the congre- 
gation increased under English preaching, that it 
was found necessary to erect another, or a third 
place* for public worship. The indications evi- 
dent to every one, and daily multiplying, of the 
popularity and utility, under the Divine blessing, of 
the change which had been effected, served only 
to heighten their unfriendly feelings ; and another 
expedient, which they tried to regain their lost influ- 
ence or to make fresh trouble, was the presenta- 
tion before the Governor and Council of a formal 
complaint against the Consistory. This was their 
dernier resort : but here their expectations were 
sadly disappointed. The Governor and Council 
ordered a copy of the complaint to be given to the 
Consistory, and recommended that the same be 



* By a letter of Mr. Lott, dated Oct. 22, 1767, this building, 
(now called the North Church,) it appears, was then considerably 
advanced. The foundation was laid probably in the spring of the 

same v©ar. 

go 



154 CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO 

answered. An answer was, accordingly, prepared 
and submitted ; and the reader may learn the result 
of this affair from a paragraph in another of Dr. 
Laidlie's letters, dated December, 1767. It is as 
follows : — " You know how strangely poor Mr. De 
Ronde has behaved for some time past. He 
strongly supported, or rather has kept alive the 
otherwise dying dissensions in our congregation ; 
but the Dutch party having brought the affair be- 
fore the Governor and Council, and the Consiston' 
being desired to give in an answer to several com- 
plaints lodged before said Board by the Dutch 
party, the Consistory accordingly gave in an an- 
swer, out of mere complaisance ; and the Gover- 
nor and Council decided the matter by declaring 
it was not cognizable by them, a declaration not 
very honourable for the Board who made it, and by 
which the last finishing blow was given to all the 
hopes of the Dutch party. This has made them 
all very calm." 

The liberty has been taken to present the pre- 
ceding extracts from the private letters of Dr. 
Laidlie to his young friend, to confirm the repre- 
sentation which has been made of this unhappy 
dispute. The truth of such testimony cannot be 
questioned. 

The dispute was now settled. The vanquished 



THE CHURCH OF 



NEW-YORK. 



155 



party were treated with tenderness, and for man}' 
years after, or until the number remaining became 
very small, they maintained service in the Old 
Church, in the language for the preservation of 
which they had so long and so strenuously contend- 
ed ; but .English preaching was no more opposed, 

It need scarcely be added, that the influence of 
these occurrences was felt in many congregations, 
and led, at length, to a general disuse of the Dutch 
language in the public worship of God; and, if the 
dispute be viewed as having had ultimately so ex- 
tensive and important an influence upon the Church 
at large, the narrative which has been given of all 
that related to it, will not be thought, it is hoped, 
to have been too protracted or minute. 

The introduction of the English language into the 
Dutch Church in this country, was so closely con- 
nected in its consequences with all her best inte- 
rests, that no person can hesitate to admit it was 
one of the most auspicious and remarkable events 
which can be found recorded in her history. 



CHAPTER V. 



FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS STUDIES IN THE 
UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT, TILL HIS RETURN 
TO NEW-YORK. 

The University of Utrecht, next to that of Ley- 
den, is the oldest institution of the kind in the 
United Netherlands. It was founded in 1636 ; and 
some, no doubt, are ready to associate the idea of 
a school so ancient and celebrated, with that of 
commodious and splendid buildings, appropriated 
to the accommodation of the professors and stu- 
dents. Such an association of ideas is quite natu- 
ral for an American. He could not, perhaps, but 
with some difficulty, think of a college, without, at 
the same time, imagining one or more spacious and 
elegant edifices as constituting an important or 
necessary part of it. But the founders of the 
Dutch Universities were very indifferent about 
accommodations of this description. 

" The external appearance of the Universities," 
says Guthrie, " is rather mean, and the buildings 
old ; but these defects are amply compensated by 



KESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 157 



the variety of solid and useful learning taught in 
them. There are abundance of youth of the prin- 
cipal nobility and gentry, from most countries in 
Europe, at these seminaries of literature ; and, as 
every one may live as he pleases, without being 
obliged to be profuse in his expenses, or so much 
as quitting his night-gown for weeks or months to- 
gether, foreigners of all ranks and conditions are 
to be seen here." 

And of the one which he attended, Mr. Living- 
ston has left this account : — • " There were no public 
buildings belonging to the University of Utrecht. 
A large hall appertaining to the old Cathedral or 
Dome Kirk, was occasionally used for public ora- 
tions and disputations; and, in a hall of the St. 
Jans Kirk, the public library was deposited. This 
was not large in respect to the number of books, 
as it contained chiefly such as were very rare ; but 
it was especially celebrated for a rich collection of 
manuscripts. The lectures of the professors were 
all held in their own respective houses. There 
were also no buildings appropriated as lodgings for 
the students. They hired chambers, agreeably to 
their choice, among the citizens. It was usual for 
them to dine in select parties, in boarding-houses,' 5 

" The average number of students at the Univer- 



158 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



sity of Utrecht, during the four years I resided 
there, was to me unknown. The students, who at- 
tend to the different branches of science, repair all 
to their own respective lecture-rooms, and have 
little or no knowledge of any others. And, as there 
are several professors, even of the same science, 
each of them has a distinct number of students, 
who seldom associate familiarly with those who 
attend a different professor. It was, therefore, no 
easy matter to ascertain the whole number, and 
impossible to become familiarly acquainted with 
all." 

Such a plan of conducting the education of youth, 
is decidedly preferable, — in the judg ment of the 
writer at least, — to that which has obtained at many 
of the seats of science in this country. For a num- 
ber of students to reside together in the same build- 
ing, who are come from various parts ; whose domes- 
tic education has been, in many respects, widely dif- 
ferent ; who, during their collegiate course, are thus 
put, in a measure, out of the reach of the influence 
of public opinion upon them as individuals ; who 
are swayed in their conduct, rather by that ardour 
of feeling peculiar to their age, than by the sober 
dictates of reason, or sound principle — is not a plan 
the best calculated, it would seem, to promote 
either their moral or intellectual improvement. 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



159 



And, most assuredly, the money expended in the 
erection of a building of a proper size and con- 
venience, would, if judiciously invested, yield much 
for the support of a competent number of able pro- 
fessors, or for providing other necessary helps to 
the acquisition of learning. Some of the colleges 
that furnish rooms and commons for their students, 
certainly rank high as literary institutions, and 
their celebrity is deserved. They have supplied 
the pulpit, the legislative hall, the highest offices of 
state, with men of great worth and distinction, whose 
names are, and will be on the page of history with 
imperishable renown ; and it is probable that the es- 
tablished economy referred to was, in their infancy,, 
indispensable to their prosperity. But still, every 
candid person must admit, that it is but too fre- 
quently attended with mischievous consequences ; 
that it often leads to injurious intimacies among 
youth — to overt acts of rebellion and folly, which 
leave a taint of guilt or infamy not easily effaced — 
to the loss or subversion of the best principles and 
habits, in which they had been carefully trained up 
at home, and the salutary impressions of which 
were plainly to be seen when they first became 
inhabitants of a college. And how far such evils 
might be diminished or prevented, by the adoption 
of another and more liberal economy ; one better 
suited to an age, as different from that of Mona- 



160 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



chism, to which the rise of the other can be traced, 
as light is from darkness, may be a question enti- 
tled to some consideration. 

Mr Livingston, having completed the prepara- 
tory arrangements which he judged necessary to 
facilitate the prosecution of his studies, as soon as 
the session of the university opened, was admitted 
a member, and commenced a regular attendance 
upon several professors. Professor Bonnet, whose 
department was didactic and polemic theology, he 
considered his Gamaliel. He attended also Pro- 
fessor Elsnerus, in didactic theology : in the He- 
brew language, and Jewish antiquities, Professor 
Ravius : in the biblical criticism of the New Testa- 
ment, Professor Segaar : and subsequently, upon 
the Greek of the New Testament, Professor Van 
Goens. 

These learned men, it ought to be observed, de- 
livered all their lectures in the Latin language, and 
our young student not being sufficiently familiar 
with it to understand it in oral discourse, would not, 
at first, as may be supposed, hear them with either 
much interest or benefit. But, he applied himself 
afresh most assiduously to the study of the Latin 
classics ; and, as he had been well grounded in the 
elementary principles of the language, he soon 



KESIDENCK IN HOLLAND. 



161 



acquired a competent knowledge of it. After a 
little while, as the result of this application, he 
found he could receive the instructions of his pro- 
fessors, without embarrassment or loss of any con- 
sequence. 

Before he left the University, he could speak the 
Latin almost as readily as his native tongue, the 
Dutch equally or more so ; and, to quote his own 
words, he " thought and wrote, and even prayed in 
secret, undesignedly, sometimes in Latin, and 
sometimes in Dutch*" 

Besides pursuing with ardour and diligence the 
studies that have been enumerated, he sought to 
improve every opportunity he had to gain useful 
information of any sort, or upon other subjects, 
though not immediately connected with theology ; 
and for this purpose, he occasionally attended the 
public lectures upon chemistry, anatomy, and 
dissections. During the whole period of his stay at 
the University, he appears to have conscientiously 
endeavoured to make the best possible use of 
his time for his own advantage, or that of others 
and thus to serve and glorify God, 

And it may be further remarked, that while he 

laboured to obtain an extensive and thorough theo 

21 



WZ KESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

retical acquaintance with the system of Divine 
truth, he was not inattentive to the state of his heart : 
he was concerned to know, from his own happy 
experience, the practical and gracious influence of 
that truth. The doctrines he was taught, he brought 
to the touchstone of the inspired volume ; for " I 
was determined," he says," never to adopt any sen- 
timent upon the authority of public profession, or 
the decision of any man, however dignified or im- 
posing his name or influence might be, unless I was 
convinced it was founded upon the word of God." 
And, as they were severally and successively discus- 
sed in the course of the lectures, it was his custom 
not only to search the Bible to ascertain himself of 
their authority, but also to read the best treatises 
upon them he could find, in order that he might fully 
understand them, and, at the same time, to pray 
ferventl}' that the Lord would instruct him, and en- 
able him to realize his own interest in each of them> 
Such a method of prosecuting his favourite study 
could not fail to be profitable to both the head and 
the heart ; and it may be confidently averred, that 
the student of theology who does not act upon the 
principle it involves — that is — does not seek to 
grow in grace, as well as in knowledge — to unite 
the cultivation of the heart with the improvement 
of the mind, cannot estimate, as he ought, the holy 
work in which he proposes to engage, nor become 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



163 



thoroughly furnished for it, while he neglects the 
duty. 

Prayer is essential to spiritual vitality. It is the, 
Christian's breath : — he can no more live without 
it, as a child of God, or in communion with God, 
than the natural man can live without air. Cer- 
tainly then, he who studies the deep things of 
God, that he may be prepared to teach others — to 
guide his sinful, perishing fellow-men to a Saviour 
and Heaven, ought to give himself habitually to 
prayer, and to the use of all other means calcula- 
ted to promote his own personal religion. 

Mr. Livingston was no stranger at the Throne of 
Grace. He loved to pray ; and daily intercourse 
with a few eminently pious young friends of the 
University, contributed not a little to cherish in him 
a devotional spirit. Among those between whom 
and himself a most affectionate intimacy subsisted, 
he has particularly named Messrs. Van Vloten, I. 
L. Verster, A. Boelen, I. Kneppelhout, L Prinse, 
W. C. Hoog, I. Verduin, I. Van De Kasteele, 
I. B. Hendricks, H. Van Alphen, C. Boers, S. 
Spiering, and A. Rutgers. With these individuals, 
who were respected for their literary attainments, 
but especially for their faith and godly zeal, he 
constantly associated. They aided him in his sttt- 



1-64 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

dies ; and their pious conversation was very con- 
ducive to his spiritual comfort and edification. 

A circumstance that shows at once the character 
of this little fraternity, and how much good a pro- 
fessor, who has in him the spirit of grace and sup- 
plication, can do, otherwise than by imparting in- 
struction, merits a moment's notice. It was this : 
many of them regularly attended Professor Elsne- 
rus 9 chiefly for the benefit they derived from the 
fervent and impressive prayers with which he 
opened and closed his lectures. The lectures of 
this venerable man are represented to have been 
exceedingly interesting and instructive, but his 
prayers as peculiarly spiritual and moving — as 
having a holy and elevating influence upon their 
hearts, which, of itself, constituted a sufficient; in- 
ducement with them to visit his room. That they 
were drawn thither by his extraordinary gift in 
prayer, exhibits their piety in a very favourable 
light ; and the gift, it must be confessed, was more 
honourable to him, than would have been without it, 
the possession of the most splendid genius, or the 
most profound erudition, 

Mr. Livingston was in the habit, it has been 
observed, of pondering upon the subject of the 
last lecture. This habit once occasioned him a 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



165 



short but distressing conflict, in relation to a doc- 
trine of great importance, of which, and also of the 
means of his deliverance from it, he has left the 
following account : 

" I was walking one day alone, under the rows 
of trees on the border of the canal, without the 
walls of the city, and meditating upon Divine Pro- 
vidence, which was, at that time, the subject of our 
lectures, when a blasphemous objection against 
that doctrine suddenly and powerfully arose in my 
mind ; and with great violence, a fierce suggestion 
succeeded, almost in the very words of 2 Pet. iii, 4, 
Ml things continue as they were. There is no Pro- 
vidence: there is no superior or divine agency. 
Causes and effects % ivith their train of events, roll 
uninterruptedly on, and nations and human affairs 
'proceed invariably the same, without the interposition 
of God or Providence. My soul was disturbed and 
afflicted: — I paused, and was overwhelmed with 
surprise, alarm, and grief. But a very different 
suggestion soon ensued. It was not an articulate 
sound, nor any audible voice ; yet it conveyed ideas 
as correct and impressive, as if I had heard one 
speaking to me. It said: — You shall live to see 
signal and indisputable interpositions of Divine Pro- 
vidence : you shall live to see the rise and downfal 
of governments : you will see new nations commence, 



166 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

i 

and old nations convulsed mid changed. A series 
of new and astonishing events, which will influence 
the church and the world, will happen in your life 
time, arid prove the Providence of God. It was no 
enthusiasm. I had not anticipated any thing of that 
kind. I was cool and thoughtful. It produced, at 
the moment, great agitation of mind. Yet I left the 
suggestion, and whatever it might mean, as well as 
whatever might follow, with great reverence and 
humble adoration, to the Lord. But it removed 
the evil suggestion against Providence, and I be- 
came, during that walk and meditation, confirmed 
in the doctrine, with enlarged views, precision, and 
evidence, that have never since been assaulted or 
disturbed. I often afterwards recollected the sug- 
gestion, and expected the accomplishment." 

That in every age of the Church, there have 
been children of God favoured with extraordinary 
revelations of things future, no one, who has been 
much conversant with the histories of Christian ex- 
perience, will deny. They do not, indeed, essen- 
tially belong to such experience : every Christian 
does not receive them : they are not a necessary 
part of the operations of saving grace ; but the fact, 
nevertheless, is certain, that they have been made ; 
and, in some isolated cases, they have been of a 
very remarkable kind, well attested and fully veri- 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



167 



lied by subsequent occurrences in Providence. The 
purpose of God, in imparting a measure of pre- 
science occasionally, or under some peculiar circum- 
stances, to particular persons is, to communicate by 
this means an immediate spiritual benefit to their 
souls, as may be supposed ;— not to constitute them 
prophets, in the sense in which the term is common- 
ly used, or to authorize them to utter predictions, 
but merely to deliver them from some present or 
powerful temptation, to confirm their faith, to sus- 
tain their hope, to invigorate all their graces, and 
thus to advance and secure their eternal salvation : 
or, it may be, that some gracious purpose is to be 
accomplished by it in other persons. God has his 
own way of working, in calling and conducting his 
children to Heaven. They are his. He knows 
them ; and the enemy shall not, by any stratagems 
he can devise, or by any power he can exert, be 
able to pluck them out of his hand. When they 
pass through the waters, he will be with them : and 
through the rivers, they shall not overflow them : 
when they walk through the fire, they shall not be 
burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon them.* 
He will not suffer his faithfulness to fail ; but will 
supply all their need, according to his riches in glory, 
by Christ Jesus* He knows the best method of 



* Isa. xiiii, 2, 



Psl. Ixxxix. 33. and Phil. iv. 19. 



168 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



succouring them that are tempted; and, if it be ne- 
cessary, in order to counteract and destroy a dis- 
tressing, overpowering suggestion of the evil one, 
that the mind be suddenly and strongly impressed 
with a suggestion of an opposite nature, he will in 
kindness grant such relief. 

The occurrence, just related, affords a striking 
illustration of this remark. The prophetic sug- 
gestion of which Mr. Livingston speaks, was made 
at a moment when he was under the influence of 
a most violent and most impious temptation. It 
was exactly calculated to prevent the temptation 
from having any effect : it was a direct reply to 
the same ; and, accordingly, it at once extricated him 
from the snare of the Devil, and established his 
confidence in God as the God of Providence. Be- 
lieving it was from God, though he had no miracu- 
lous evidence of the fact, he naturally waited for 
its accomplishment ; and this it pleased the Lord 
to spare him to witness. " And now," (alluding to 
the time when writing the account 1818,) he adds, 
" 1 can put my seal to its truth. I have lived to see 
the new nation of the United States arise and be- 
come a great civil power. I was thirty years old 
at the commencement of our revolution, * * * 
***** I was confident the Lord would 
help us, even in the darkest periods of the war : 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



and he did help us. ****** I have 
lived also to see the probable beginnings of new 
nations, which are now rising in South America ; 
not to mention the actual establishment of that 
singular nation in St. Domingo. Even in Holland, 
the very nation in which I then was, the govern- 
ment has been changed, and a new nation formed. 
My Mends there often exultingly boasted, that 
Belgium had always been a Republic, even from 
the days of Julius Caesar, but they are now under 
a monarchical government : they are a new nation. 
I have lived to see the prostration of many nations 
in Europe, during the singular career of Napoleon 
Bonaparte ; and they are all, in many respects, now 
changed from what they were when this suggestion 
was made to me. In the Church, more unex- 
pected and surprising events have succeeded. The 
formation of Missionary Societies, and the success 
of the Missionaries ; and now lately, of Bible So- 
cieties, and the extensive dispersion of the blessed 
Word, constitute a new epoch; and, while^Christians 
see and believe, and rejoice that the Lord reigneth, 
the wicked are made to feel and acknowledge 
that, verily, there is a God who judgeth in the earth, 
—there is a Divine Providence." 

During his residence at Utrecht, he had some 

pleasing evidence, in being made the instrument of 

22 



170 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



converting several persons, that he was indeed 
called to win souls for Christ. Possessing natu- 
rally a happy talent at conversation, he employed 
it, as he had opportunity, to magnify and commend 
the grace of the Redeemer, or to say something, to 
excite in those with whom he happened to be in 
company, and who, he had reason to believe, 
were unacquainted with the power of religion, an 
attention to the momentous concerns of eternity, 
This he could do, it is well known, with an ease, 
and dignity, and solemnity, that were truly admir- 
able and peculiar to himself. 

One evening, when much taken up with his 
studies, a stranger called at his room, and, pretend- 
ing that he had come to present the compliments of 
a gentleman in Amsterdam, showed some inclina- 
tion to spend the evening with him. He had no 
wish to be interrupted ; and there was that, in the 
appearance or behaviour of the stranger, he did 
not like ; but he had too much politeness to request 
him to depart. At length, when he saw that the 
unwelcome visit was to be prolonged, he recon- 
ciled himself to the interruption as well as he could, 
and silently lifting up his soul to God, in one or two 
ejaculations for the Divine direction and blessing, 
he entered into a little familiar discourse with him. 
The conversation, which was at first upon ordinary 



RESIDENCE IN HOELAND. 



afiairs, and not very interesting, by the seasonable 
introduction of a few appropriate pious remarks, he 
soon turned altogether upon subjects of religion ; 
and then, as he of course had the most to say, it 
was evangelical, instructive, pointed, calculated to 
convince his visitant, evidently yet in an unrege- 
nerate state, of the importance of eternal things. 
His observations were listened to, apparently with 
intense interest, until quite a late hour, when the 
gentleman retired with suitable expressions of 
gratitude and respect. 

Early the next morning a note came, containing 
a request that the writer of it might be permitted to 
renew his visit, as the conversation of the preced- 
ing evening had awakened in him a deep concern 
for the welfare of his soul. Mr. Livingston received 
the tidings with delight, and immediately granted 
his request in the most affectionate manner, 
He now considered the interview which, at its com- 
mencement, had been so disagreeable to him, as 
an extraordinary occurrence, that called for thanks- 
giving and praise ; and, for many weeks after, he 
daily taught the way of salvation to this alarmed, 
inquiring sinner, who in due time obtained a hope, 
joined the Church, and was esteemed a genuine 
convert— -a truly humble and exemplary follower 
of the Lord Jesus, 



172 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

Among the students with whom Mr. Livingston 
associated, was a young man engaged in the study 
of law, the son of an East India Governor. He 
was not a pious, but he was an amiable youth, and 
the frequent interchange of friendly attentions, led 
to the formation of a very tender and confidential 
intimacy between them. 

One day Mr. Livingston called to see him, and 
while in his room, felt a strong desire to talk with 
him upon the subject of the one thing needful ; — so 
strong a desire, that he determined to do it at once, 
as soon as some gentlemen, who were present, had 
gone away ; and, though urged to accompany them 
when they took their leave, he politely declined the 
invitation and remained for the purpose. Praying 
that God would guide and assist him, he then com- 
menced a plain and serious conversation relative to 
tjie necessity of personal religion, or of a personal 
interest in Christ, by faith, in order to salvation ; 
and to his great joy, he discovered before it termi- 
nated, some little evidence that it had been, in a 
measure at least, a profitable conversation. There 
had been so much ingenuousness, and such appear- 
ance of incipient conviction in the behaviour of his 
friend, that he could not but hope his labour of love 
would result as he had prayed it might, — and so it 
did result, The important truths which had been 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



178 



thus faithfully addressed to the conscience of this 
young man, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, 
produced a saving change in him. He gave up the 
study of law, prepared for the ministry, and was 
afterwards a distinguished herald of the Cross. — In 
a letter that he wrote to Mr. Livingston, w r hen the 
latter had returned to America, he very feelingly 
adverted to the wise and gracious Providence which, 
having brought the one from the East and the other 
from the West, to meet in Utrecht, had so singularly 
over-ruled their acquaintance, as to make it the 
memorable means of his conversion. 

Another fact, which shows the great difference be- 
tween a speculative and saving knowledge of the 
truth, and how easily one taught of God, though his 
attainments in learning be comparatively very li- 
mited ; though he be capable of giving only the sim- 
plest instruction grounded upon his own experience 
of the power of Divine grace, may be used by the 
Spirit to convey light and comfort to the mind, even 
of a philosopher, occurred about this time, and 
must be told. 

The fame of Bonnet had drawn to the University 
a graduate of the University of Groningen, who 
was already known as the author of some works in 
Latin, respectable for their learning, and was ho- 



174 



[RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



noured with the degree of doctor of philosophy. 
He had come to attend the divinity-lectures of 
the celebrated professor, and Mr. Livingston being 
informed of his character, obtained an introduction 
to him. The acquaintance now made with each 
other, soon ripened into a mutual, unreserved, and 
confidential friendship. It so happened, that Dr. 

the gentleman referred to, when he had been 
there a short time, was suddenly thrown into a state 
of great mental distress, through some painful 
intelligence he had received. The news reached 
him one evening of the death of a person, whom 
he had long loved as his own soul — a young clergy- 
man, of extraordinary piety and talents ; and upon 
learning the melancholy event which, it would seem, 
he had not expected, his thoughts became wholly 
absorbed with the bereavement he had sustained, 
He was deeply afflicted : — he retired to his bed 
with a dejected and sorrowful heart. 

In the course of the same night, while ruminating 
upon the stroke, he was led to reflect that he also 
was doomed to die, and to look at death, and judg- 
ment, and eternity, as immediately before him. He 
saw what, perhaps, he had admitted a thousand 
times and more, but never before seriously ponder- 
ed, that the hour was approaching, which would 
terminate his connexion with earth, and transmit 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



175 



his spirit to the bar of God ; and he saw that he 
was a sinner unprepared to meet his God. He 
knew that he was then out of Christ, and that if 
death should surprise him in that state, he would 
be lost for ever. So cogent and sharp was the con- 
viction of this awful truth, that he forgot, in a man- 
ner, his friend's departure from life, in the concern 
he felt for his own salvation, and there was no sleep 
for him that night. 

The next morning, Mr. Livingston paid him a 
visit, and being ignorant of the circumstances of 
the case, was much affected, upon entering his 
room, at his mournful appearance. The cause of 
his evident distress was immediately inquired, with 
an air of affectionate solicitude, that induced him to 
make a full disclosure of the whole matter ; and, 
when he had related his exercises, he earnestly 
asked— what he must do to be saved. Mr. Living- 
ston modestly answered, " that he knew him to be 
well acquainted with the precious truths of the Gos- 
pel, and * * * informed in what way sinners were 
accepted in the beloved Saviour ;" and feeling, pro- 
bably, at the moment some little embarrassment, 
as he had been unprepared for such a meeting, he 
rose fronrhis seat to leave him. But the Doctor 
would not permit him to go yet : " No, my dear 
friend," said he, " No, you must not leave me ; 



170 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND 



sit down ; you must descend more to particulars. 
You must tell me how a sinner must come to Jesus, 
and what are the peculiar exercises of that repent- 
ance and faith, which unites the soul to the Divine 
Redeemer. It is a fact," he added, "that I have 
studied the doctrines of the Gospel. I can explain 
and vindicate them, and you are convinced of my 
knowledge of the truth : it would be improper in 
me to deny it. But all this has been mere specu- 
lation ; it has been all viewed by me as an abstract 
theory. I have been ignorant of the spirituality 
and extent of the Divine Law. I did not know who 
or what a sinner was, nor did I realize that I was 
the man. And now, since these convictions have 
commenced, I find myself, with all my acquired 
knowledge, ignorant and forlorn. I know not what 
I must do, or how to approach a Throne of Grace, 
any more than the most uninformed babe. I must 
be taught what it is to enter into covenant with 
God my Redeemer, and what that direct and per- 
sonal faith is, by which the soul is united to Christ, 
and becomes interested in his imputed righteous- 
ness for justification and acceptance. " 

Being thus importuned to remain, Mr. Living- 
ston again took his seat, and attempted to exhibit 
to him the experience that is connected with 
genuine conversion, the nature of evangelical re- 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 177 

pentance, and of saving faith, and how a sinner, that 
is under the renewing influence of the Spirit of God, 
is brought to appropriate a precious Christ as his 
sacrifice and righteousness. The Saviour, in his 
ability and willingness to save, and the ample 
encouragements of the Gospel to the exercise of 
a full affiance in his merits and grace, were also 
presented with much clearness and feeling ; and, 
under the Divine blessing, the Doctor was both 
enlightened and comforted by this plain, spi- 
ritual, and affectionate conversation. He found 
peace and joy in believing. At the completion of 
his studies, he entered the ministry ; was called to 
the Church of ***** ; anc | ? to a good old age ? 
was esteemed an exemplar}^ learned, and useful 
minister of the Gospel. 

The evidences of the Christian religion are so 
numerous and irrefragable, that no one who candid- 
ly considers them, can doubt its divine origin, or his 
own obligation to yield obedience to its precepts ; 
and hence it is, that a large majority of those who 
live in Christian lands, are, at least, professed Chris - 
tians, though much divided in sentiment upon some 
doctrinal points, and differing in their modes of 
worship. But it is a fact that an historical faith is 
not a saving faith— nor is it always connected with 

the enjoyment of the life and power of godliness 

23 



178 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



It is a fact that, in nearly every communion, there 
are those who have a faith which worketh by love, 
purifieth the heart, and overcometh the world, and 
whose religious experience, with all the diversity 
observable in their creeds and forms, involves a 
singular agreement of views and feelings. It is a 
fact that genuine believers, of every name, have a 
common spiritual discernment, and a common 
spiritual sensibility, and, it may be added, a common 
spiritual language, which mere speculative or no- 
minal Christians have not, neither can have, as long 
as they are destitute of that faith, which is the effect 
of a supernatural influence. This may be deno- 
minated, in contradistinction to the other evidences 
of religion, the evidence of the Spirit ; and it 
comes from the North, and South, and East, and 
West, — from the children of God of every denomi- 
nation — of every clime, kindred, and tongue. The 
Holy Spirit preserves a uniformity in his saving 
operations — that is, his operations lead to an ex- 
perimental knowledge, in all the saints, of the 
same great truths. A variety of circumstances 
maybe employed to awaken them out of the sleep 
of sin ; but the work begun and achieved in them 
by Divine grace, has the same characters, and the 
same fruits. They are all taught of God — not con- 
trary things, but the same things that pertain to sal- 
vation. Hence it is that— whether they be learned 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



170 



or unlearned— Episcopalians or Presbyterians- 
Methodists or Baptists — natives of Europe or 
Asia, of Africa or America, the)' perfectly under- 
stand one another upon the cardinal points of Chris- 
tian experience, whenever they have an opportu- 
nity in the providence of God, to converse upon 
the subject, and mingle sweetly together as fellow- 
heirs of the grace of life. 

While Mr. Livingston was in Utrecht, a number 
of pious persons, who had almost contemporarily 
experienced a change of heart, and some of whom 
were from different and distant countries, assem- 
bled by invitation, in that city, for the purpose of 
comparing together their views and exercises 
under the power of redeeming grace. He made 
one of the happy company ; and it was to him a most 
edifying and delightful conference, the recollection 
of which he cherished as long as he lived. 

After the Throne of Grace had been addressed, 
and a song of Zion had been sung, a person from 
Asia gave a minute account of the means of his 
conversion — of his contrition for sin— of his 
reception of the Lord Jesus as his Prophet, Priest, 
and King— and of his subsequent enjoyments in 
the Divine life. Then— one from Africa, whose 
family was among the most respectable at the Ca~pe 



180 



KESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



of Good Hope, told how he was first made sensi- 
ble of his guilt, and consequent exposure to the 
wrath of God ; how he had struggled against un- 
belief ; and how at last, he was made willing, in a 
day of God's power, to accept salvation as a free 
gift, as tendered without money and without price, as 
flowing from the rich and sovereign grace of God, in 
the dear, adorable Redeemer. Mr. Livingston 
followed next, with a brief statement of what the 
Lord had done for his soul — and after him, the coun- 
tess of R — — , from Europe, detailed her religious 
exercises. 

"The sum of the whole," says Mr. Livingston 
in a short narrative of this conference, " when 
compared together, exhibited the same teaching, 
the same views and exercises, and the same faith, 
and hope, and love. The attending circumstances 
and first incitements to religious impressions were 
various : yet the convictions of sin and misery, of 
seeking and obtaining joy and peace in believing, 
of looking unto Jesus, and through him, coming to 
the Father, and entering into an everlasting cove- 
nant with God, as the Redeemer and God of salva- 
tion, in and through the Son of his love, were 
exactly the same. We all agreed as though we 
had lived in the same neighbourhood, and had 
"been, as we really were, under one and the same 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



181 



teaching. The company was comforted and edi- 
fied, delighted and elevated. Mutual sentiments 
of fervent love and Christian communion prevailed ; 
and sentiments of adoration, hope, and thanksgiving 
were expressed. We testified these by singing, at 
the close of our conference, the 72d Psalm, in which, 
with lively adoration and raised affections, we 
celebrated the extent of our precious Redeemer's 
kingdom. The sons of mirth," he adds, " may en- 
joy their ribaldry and wine, and infidels scoff at the 
hope of Christians, of which the ignorant wretches 
have no idea ; but they never felt, nor can, while 
they remain unbelievers, what we felt and enjoyed 
upon this occasion. I never experienced so much 
devotion in singing a psalm, nor did I ever obtain 
such peculiar confirmation in my former experi- 
ences of the divine teaching, and sanctifying grace." 

The Reformed Dutch Church was, as the reader 
is no doubt already informed, the established na- 
tional Church in all the provinces of the United 
Netherlands: but, notwithstanding the fact, socie- 
ties of other denominations were liberally tole- 
rated. They enjoyed, if not the direct countenance, 
at least the indulgence of government, and were 
permitted to maintain their respective peculiarities, 
in doctrine and worship, without fear of molestation. 
—With one of these, which were [in the city of 



9 

182 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

Utrecht, a church in the Baptist connexion, Mr. 
Livingston, and a few of his university-companions, 
were induced to celebrate divine service upon a 
Sabbath afternoon ; and before the service was 
over, they witnessed a mode of administering the 
ordinance of baptism, that will probably be pro- 
nounced by some to have been a very unseemly 
and sinful deviation from the common practice of 
the communion, but, as a demonstrative proof of 
the good sense and catholic spirit of these Baptists, 
ought not to be suppressed. After a most excel- 
lent sermon from the pastor, a man whose pre- 
eminent talents, fervent piety, and evangelical 
preaching, had rendered him exceedingly popular 
in the place, three adults came forward to be 
baptised, and baptism was administered to them, 
not by immersion, but upon the principle involved 
in our Lord's rejoinder to Peter, when he had ex- 
pressed a wish to have, besides his feet, his hands 
alid head washed — He that is washed needeth not, 
save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit — that is 5 
by sprinkling, 

U The ordinance," Mr. Livingston observes in his 
notes upon the interesting scene, " was solemnly 
performed, and I felt affected and edified. Yet, 
contrary to what I expected, they were not immer- 
sed or plunged, but sprinkled on the face, in 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



183 



the same way that we administer that sacrament 
in our Reformed Church. I knew the Baptists in 
America differed from us in the mode, as well as the 
subjects of baptism; that they magnified and distort- 
ed the question respecting immersion; and notwith- 
standing, excepting themselves, the whole Church 
of Christ, with which compared they were very few 
and small, always practised sprinkling, they still 
maintained that a complete plunging under water was 
essential to the ordinance. Under the impression 
that all Baptists entertained the same superstitious 
and singular sentiment, I was surprised to find the 
contrary in the instance then exhibited. But it is a 
fact, whatever they may profess or perform in 
America or in England, that the Baptists on the 
continent of Europe are better informed ; and, while 
they agree with their brethren in relation to the 
subjects, yet many of them do not scruple to admi- 
nister baptism, as all other Christians do, by sprink- 
ling." 

The writer feels an unfeigned and very great 
respect for this body of Christians. He sincerely 
believes that God has many of his people among 
them; but it is, nevertheless, his full conviction that 
they attach an undue importance to immersion, when 
they represent it as the only scriptural mode of 
baptism. — A few such triumphs of truth over pre- 



184 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



judice as the one above stated, in this country, or 
such a representation of the subject as, in candour, 
ought to be made, would tend greatly to the pre- 
servation with their brethren of other denomina- 
tions, of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

In 1768, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon having 
accepted the call of the Trustees of Princeton Col- 
lege to preside over that venerable institution, 
previously to his departure for America, visited the 
continent of Europe, for the purpose of forming an 
acquaintance with some of the distinguished men of 
Holland. When he arrived at Rotterdam, he wrote 
to Mr. Livingston, informing him of the object of 
the visit, and requesting the favour of being provided 
by him with suitable lodgings at Utrecht. The 
request was very cheerfully and promptly complied 
with ; and the respectable family, which had enga- 
ged to accommodate the worthy stranger, received 
him with all politeness, and kindly entertained him 
without charge during his stay in the City. — The 
day after his coming there, Mr. Livingston went 
with him to the university, and introduced him to 
Professor Bonnet : — and having noticed this fact, 
it will be necessary for awhile to direct the atten- 
tion of the readerto some measures which were then 
in contemplation for the benefit of the Dutch Church 
in America. Mr. Livingston, ardently desirous that 
something should be done as speedily as possible to 



.RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



185 



etfect a reconciliation between the two great parties 
in the Church, (the Coetus and Conference,) was 
disposed to consider the visit of Dr. Witherspoon, 
at the time, as an occurrence that might be used to 
advantage to further the attainment of that object 3 
and, with this impression, did approve the general 
outlines of a plan which, it was thought would satis- 
factorily provide for the education of her ministry, 
under the auspices of that great and good man, 
when he should be settled at Princeton. It is at 
least supposed that such was the fact : the grounds 
upon which the supposition rests will presently be 
exhibited. 

The interview between the Doctor and the Pro- 
lessor is represented to have been, in a high degree, 
interesting and gratifying to both. Their discourse 
with each other was in Latin, and before it ended, 
"Dr. Witherspoon expressed," says Mr. Livingston, 
"in the warmest terms, his cordial esteem and venera- 
tion for the Reformed Dutch Church, and declared 
his hope and expectation, that the two Churches of 
Holland and Scotland would, by their mutual efforts 
and influence, while they still remained two distinct 
denominations, without any public union or blend g 
ing, powerfully defend the doctrines of grace, and | 
successfully co-operate in promoting the best in- 
terests of the Gospel in America" 



286 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



The establishment of a friendly correspondence 
and co-operation, was the only union then proposed ; 
but, another of a more important character, was 
soon after suggested, — by whom, in the first in- 
stance, is not known, — and was seriously meditated, 
as will appear from the following letter of Dr. 
Witherspoon to Mr. Livingston, dated Paisley, 
May 12, 1768 : 

" Dear Sir, 
" I was favoured with yours of the 27th, two 
days ago, and being just about to depart, have only 
time to thank you for the pains you have taken in 
the affair of the union, and wish it may prosper ; 
though I think some circumstances may be added 
to what you propose, but shall say nothing of it till 
I hear further from you, as you seem to wish. I 
pray that you may be blessed in your studies, and 
honoured to be in due time an active and success- 
ful minister of Christ. Remember me kindly to 
Professor Bonnet, and my worthy landlady, who 
received me in so hospitable a manner. 

(i I am, dear Sir, yours, &c, 
« JNO. WITHER SPO ON." 

To ensure success to any plan, which had for its 
object the accommodation of the existing differen- 
ces, and the formation of independent classes, in the 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 187 

Dutch Church in this country, it was necessary to 
consult the wishes of the ministers in Holland, by 
making some adequate provision in the plan, for the 
theological instruction of young men designing to 
enter the ministry. This provision was a favourite 
point with the transatlantic brethren, and in requir- 
ing it, they certainly evinced a very tender regard 
to the best interests of the Church ; but the ques- 
tion was, what could be done to comply with their 
wishes in this respect. The Ccetus party, in pur- 
suance of their plan of rendering themselves inde- 
pendent of the Classis of Amsterdam, had adopted 
measures for the erection of an "Academy" in 
New- Jersey, in which pious youth might be educat- 
ed for the ministry, and had already indeed obtained 
a charter for the same, containing nothing, as Mr. 
Lott, the intelligent correspondent of Mr. Living- 
ston, mentioned in the preceding chapter, observes 
in a letter dated September, 1767, " of Ccetus or 
Confer entie in it, being founded on the constitution 
of the Church of Holland, as established in the 
national Synod of Dort," and, therefore, likely to 
make it, as far as such an instrument could have 
influence, a popular institution.* But there was 



* The letter, in which it is asserted that a charter had been 
granted for this literary institution, it will be observed, is dated 
Sep. 1767. But the charter of Queen's (now Rutgers College) 
which was originally established by the Crielus party, is dated 



188 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



no one competent or willing to undertake the dis- 
charge of a professor's duties in this academy ; or* 



March 20th, 1770. To account for the discrepance between the 
letter and the charter, as to the date of this instrument, it is 
presumed that only an institution of a secondary rate was at 
iirst contemplated, and that the difficulties hinted at in the two 
next sentences above, delaying the accomplishment of the 
enterprise, it was afterwards determined to make it a College, 
for which a new charter was granted, or the old one, with the 
necessary alterations and additions, new dated. 

The following is a part of the preamble to the College 
Charter, which is extracted from an address delivered by the 
Rev. Dr. Milledoler, the worthy President of Rutgers College, 
at a late commencement, and will be seen to contain nothing 
fnat could have been justly deemed offensive or exceptionable. 

u Whereas out loving subjects, being of the Protestant 
Reformed Religion, according to the constitution of the 
Reformed Churches in the United Provinces, and using the 
discipline of the said Churches, as approved and instituted by the 
National Synod of Dort, in the year 1618 and 1619, are, in this 
and the neighbouring provinces, very numerous, consisting of 
many Churches and religious assemblies, the Ministers and 
Elders of which having taken into serious consideration the 
manner in which the said Churches might be properly supplied 
with an able, learned, and well qualified ministry ; and thinking 
it necessary, and being very desirous that a college might be 
erected for that purpose within this our province of New- Jersey, 
in which the learned languages, and other branches of useful 
knowledge may be taught, and degrees conferred ; and especially. 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 189 

if a person fully qualified for the task, and inclined 
to enter upon it, could have been found, the trus- 

that young men of suitable abilities may be instructed in divinity, 
preparing them for the ministry, and supplying the necessity of 
the Churches ; for themselves, and in behalf of their Churches, 
presented a petition to our trusty and well-beloved William 
Franklin, Esq., Governor and Commander in Chief, in and 
over Our Province of New-Jersey, in America ; setting forth, 
that the inconveniencies are manifold, and the expenses heavy, in 
either being supplied with Ministers ot the Gospel from foreign 
parts, or sending young men abroad for education ; that the pre- 
sent, and increasing necessity for a considerable number to be 
employed in the ministry, is great ; that a preservation of a fund 
for the necessary uses of instruction very much depends upon a 
charter, and therefore humbly entreat that some persons might be 
incorporated in a body politic, for the purposes aforesaid : and 
we being willing to grant the reasonable request and prayer of the 
said petitioners, and to promote learning for the benefit of the 
community, and advancement of the Protestant Religion, of all 
denominations ; and more especially, to remove as much as pos- 
sible, the necessity our said loving subjects have hitherto been 
under of sending their youth intended for the ministry to a fo- 
reign country for education, and Of being subordinate to a foreign 
ecclesiastical jurisdiction : KNOW ye, therefore, that consi- 
dering the premises, WE do of our special grace, certain know- 
ledge, and mere motion, by these presents, will, ordain, grant and 
constitute, that there be a college, called Queen's College, erect- 
ed in our said Province of New-Jersey, for the education of 
youth in the learned languages, liberal and useful arts and sciences, 
and especially in divinity ; preparing them for the ministry, and 



190 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



tees, as yet, had no funds for his support. Nay, 
moreover, the same letter states, that it was not then 
determined where the academy should be located, 
and that the question had produced a little jealousy 
and collision among the trustees, some wishing it 



other good offices ; and that the trustees of the said college, and 
their successors for ever, may and shall be one body corporate 
and politic, in deed, fact, and name ; and shall be called, known, 
and distinguished by the name of the trustees of Queen's College, 
in New- Jersey. 

" We do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, 
create, ordain, constitute, nominate, and appoint, the Governor 
or Commander in Chief, the President of the Council, our 
Chief Justice, and our Attorney General of said colony, for 
the time being, Sir W. Johnson, Baronet, and Johannes Henricus 
Goetschius, Johannes Leydt, David Maurinus, Martinus Van 
Harlingen, Jacob R. Hardenbergh, aud William Jackson, of our 
said colony of New- Jersey ; Samuel Verbryk, Barent Vrooman, 
Maurice Goetschius, Eilardus Westerlo, John Schuneman, of 
our province of New- York ; and Philip Wyberg, and Jonathan 
Dubois, of the province of Pennsylvania ; Hendrick Fisher, Peter 
Zabriskie, Peter Hasenclever, Peter Schenck, Tunis Dey, Philip 
French, John Covenhoven, Henricus Kuyper, of our colony of 
New- Jersey, Esqrs. ; and Simon Johnson, Philip Livingston, 
Johannes Hardenbergh, Abraham Hasbrook, Theodorus Van 
Wyck, Abraham Lott, Robert Livingston, Levi Pauling, John 
BrinckerhofF, Nicholas Stilwill, Martinus Hoffman, Jacob H. Ten 
Eyck, John Haring, Isaac Vrooman, Barnardus Ryder, of our 
province of New-York, Esqrs., trustees of our said college, in 
New- Jersey." 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



191 



to be placed at Hackensack, and others at New- 
Brunswick.* 

Knowing these facts, which made it very impro- 
bable that the Church here would soon be able to 
call and maintain a professor for herself ; having 
previously, as it would seem, matured a plan for 
restoring peace to this divided and afflicted portion 
of Zion, which wanted only a satisfactory article in 
relation to a professor, to render it complete and 
acceptable to ail parties concerned; acquainted, 
too, with the high character of Dr. Witherspoon, as 
a scholar and divine, it is not surprising that Mr. 



* The efforts of the Coetus party, at this time, to establish a 
theological seminary, led some persons (of the opposite party 
it is supposed) to think of having a divinity-professor in King's 
College, New- York, under the sanction of a clause granting the 
privilege to the Dutch Church, which was said to be contained 
in the charter of that Institution. 

The Rev. Mr. Ritzema, a staunch Conferentie-partisan, and one 
of the ministers of the Church of New- York, was then a direc- 
tor of the college ; and many of his friends expressed a wish that 
he should receive the appointment. The Classis of Amsterdam* 
as appears by a letter of one of its members (the Rev. Mr. Tet- 
terode,) dated in 1771, was pleased with the plan, and recommend- 
ed its adoption, until a college for the Dutch Church could be 
erected. It subsequently, however, advised that the professor 
have no connexion with any literary institution. 



19i£ RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

Livingston, in his zeal, should either have proposed 
or acceded to an arrangement, intended perhaps at 
the time to be merely a provisional one, and pro- 
mising such immediate and incalculable benefits. 
It does not appear that a union of the Dutch and 
Presbyterian Churches was now even thought of, 
much less designed ; but, that a certain connexion 
was to be formed with Princeton College, simply 
with a view to the preparation of pious youth of the 
Dutch Church for the ministry, under the superin- 
tendence of a man in whose talents, piety, and 
orthodoxy, the Church at home, and the Church 
abroad, would have the most entire confidence. 

That this was the project in embryo, can hardly 
be doubted, after a few extracts from the letters of 
Mr. Livingston's friend to him upon the subject, 
shall have been perused. " At present," says Mr. 
Lott, in a letter of November, 1768, "from a 
superficial view of the plan you mention, it ap- 
pears to me, it will meet with difficulty and objec- 
tions from both parties. For I know them so well, 
that I think I may venture to prophecy, that as long 
as their present spirit of power and dominion 
remains with them, no plan will be accepted of, 
however reasonable and useful the same may be, 
unless the different congregations have good sense 
enough to agree, whether their ministers will or 
will not," 



RESIDENCE lis HOLLAJNJX 193 

In another of December, of the same year, after 
stating that the Rev. Mr. Ritzema had shown 
him a Dutch letter, which that gentleman had 
received from Mr. Livingston, communicating the 
outlines of the plan, the same correspondent adds, 
" The matter being still new to rne, I cannot see 
how it can possibly take place. For, in the first 
place, I believe that the Conference and Coetus 
will never unite, their difference being of such a 
nature that they dare not trust each other, and thus 
a junction [is] morally impossible : and in the 
next place, I can't see how a local junction can be 
brought about with the Presbyterians, even should 
the jarring Dutch Churches agree," 

To provide a suitable professor for the academy 
as it was then denominated, which was about to 
be erected, Mr. Livingston had, prior to the visit 
of Dr. Witherspoon to Holland, prevailed upon a 
number of liberal individuals there, to pay the ex- 
pense of educating a poor youth of piety and talents, 
and of Dutch descent, if one should come from 
America, for the purpose of being qualified for the 
station — and had accordingly written to his friends 
in New- York, requesting them to select and send 
over a youth of this description, to be duly qualified, 
No better expedient could probably have been 
devised, at the time, to supply a deficiency which, 



194 



KESIDENCE IN HOLLAND, 



while it remained would, as he had reason to think, 
prevent the accomplishment of his wishes to make 
peace ; but the contemplated connexion with Prince- 
ton College, being in his view, a preferable expe- 
dient, he despatched a letter, as soon as it was 
agreed upon, revoking the request he had made. 
In reference to the contents of this letter, his 
friend observes, — " As I am afraid that your favour- 
ite plan will not take place, at least so soon as you 
seem to expect, let me recommend to you again to 
keep your Christian friends to their word about 
maintaining a poor boy. We help to maintain a 
poor but sprightly and good boy, at a grammar 
school, in hopes of his finishing his studies in Hol- 
land, as you proposed, and should be sorry to be 
disappointed of our expectations." 

Under date of March the 28th, 1769, the same 
person writes, that letters had been received from 
the Classis of Amsterdam, " directed to the Coetus 
and Conference respectively, informing them of 
the substance of the plan laid by them before the 
Synod, for accommodating the differences and heal- 
ing the breach caused in the American Church by 
the contending parties." After noticing the con- 
duct of the leaders of each party, upon the receipt 
of the classical letter : — (and from the statement 
made, it would appear that those of the Conferentie, 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



195 



with the exception of Mr. Rysdyck, being violent- 
ly opposed to the plan offered to their considera- 
tion, had prepared an answer without consulting 
the Elders of the Churches — and that those of the 
Coetus, with more prudence and respect, before 
drawing up their answer, had endeavoured to ascer- 
tain the general opinion, in relation to the plan, by 
means of a circular letter, a copy of which had 
been sent to a member of the Church of New- 
York with discretionary power,) he adds : — " As far 
as I can find, the whole Coetus, with all their heart, 
(as I imagine they will write the Classis) as well as 
all the leading members of our Church, will cheer- 
fully agree to the plan, except to that part which 
relates to the Local Union with Princeton College ; 
as it is apprehended much mischief would arise to 
our cause, from a union with that or any other Col- 
lege, at this present time. And the plan proposed 
by the Classis (if the parties will but unite) can as 
well be carried into execution without that union 
as with." 

In another letter, dated June, 1769, he has the 
following paragraph : " Our Consistory wrote their 
sentiments to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, on 
the 11th of May, about the difference between the 
Conference and Coetus, and gave them to under- 



186 RESIDENCE JN HOLLAND. 

stand, that if the former were as much disposed to 
make peace as the latter, the matter would be soon 
settled. The principal objection against the pro- 
posed plan, is the local junction with Nassau-Hall, 
in Princeton, almost every body judging it best 
that we neither join that college, nor the one in this 
city. This is the opinion of our congregation." 

These extracts show the foundation of the sup- 
position, that the union alluded to, but not distinctly 
described, in the letter of Dr. Witherspoon, was to 
be of a collegial kind, or to give to the institution 
over which he expected to preside, and more 
particularly to himself, as an approved divine, for a 
time, or until the Church could have a professor of 
her own, the education of such of her sons as had 
the ministry in view. And though the article relat- 
ing to this union was opposed with some little zeal ; 
yet it is not improbable that if the Classis had direct- 
ed all the Churches to meet and deliberate, in 
convention, upon the subject of their communica- 
tion, the plan as submitted, or at least in a modified 
form, would have been adopted, and had the desired 
effect. That order, however, was not given, 
and the sense of the Church, therefore, was but 
partially taken ; and the answers transmitted to the 
Classis, being upon most points at variance with 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 197 

each other, nothing more was done for the present. 
The whole business was now suffered to sleep for 
awhile. 

Mr. Livingston had cherished sanguine expecta- 
tions of the success of this plan, which had been 
referred to the Church with the approbation of the 
Synod of North Holland ; but God saw fit to dis- 
appoint him in the result, to give him, at some fu- 
ture day, as the reward of his benevolent zeal, a 
more interesting agency in the reconciliation of his 
divided brethren, and to put him in the honourable 
place which he had sought so actively, and irrespec- 
tively of any private advantage, to get appropriated 
to another person. 

It need only be added here, that the acquaint- 
ance which he and Dr. Witherspoon formed with 
each other in Holland, led to the mutual cultivation 
of a cordial, and warm, and lasting friendship be- 
tween them, 

About the same time, the Church of New- York, 
as the building called the North Church was near 
being completed, and it was evident that Dr. Laidlie 
alone could not render all the service which would 
be needed, when that building should be opened for 



i98 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



public worship, began to think of calling another 
English preacher. 

In anticipation of this emergency, Dr. Laidlie 
and some prominent members of the Church, who 
had become intimate friends of Mr. Livingston, 
during the winter he spent with them antecedently 
to his departure for Holland, had long been inclined 
towards him as a person possessing those excellent 
qualities desirable in a pastor, and the inclination 
being confirmed by the pleasing intelligence the} 
had now and then received respecting him, they 
did not hesitate to express their predilection in 
favour of him. A number of the congregation 
would have been gratified, if a call had been imme- 
diately made out and forwarded, as his licensure was 
expected soon to take place ; but there were some 
who wished to see or hear first an account of his 
pulpit talents, and others who thought it would be 
rather indiscreet to call him before he had return- 
ed, — not that they questioned his piety or ministerial 
gift ; but because they considered it proper that 
they should have an opportunitv of judging a little 
for themselves of his qualifications for so important 
a station, and chiefly because they apprehended 
that his voice would be too feeble to fill their large 
places of worship. 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



199 



While the known weakness of his voice and 
delicacy of his health, were producing this diversi- 
ty of sentiment in the congregation about the call, 
one or two of his most devoted friends felt consider- 
able uneasiness on another account, They had 
lately discovered that he was averse to the obser- 
vance of the holy days, as they were denominated, 
and knowing that the conduct of Dr. Laidlie with 
respect to them, had given offence,* while the dis- 
covery remained with them a profound secret, they 
could not forbear to transmit to him forthwith, some 
plain but friendly and affectionate counsel upon the 
subject. The one, f after a few remarks designed 
to show the duty and necessity of conforming to 
this usage of the Church, and made apparently in 
a proper spirit, reminds him of the Apostle Paul, 
who became all things to all men, that he might win 
some. The other % uses more freedom, and says, 
in a letter dated Nov. 1768, " I cannot avoid telling 
you that we differ very much about them, and it 
gives me real inward concern to find that you stand 
affected to them in the manner you mention. Pray, 



* Dr, Laidlie, it seems, had denied the obligation of these 
days, and though he usually preached upon them, would take 
other subjects than those selected for them by the Church of 
Holland . 

f Mr. I). Brinckerhoff. % Mr. Abraham Lott, 



200 



KESIDENCE IN HOLLANP. 



my dear Sir, are you, then, such a stranger to the 
people of the Dutch Church of this city, as to 
imagine that the sticklers for those days are only to 
be found among those who speak Dutch ? * * * 
Believe it, my friend, although a Paul was to attempt 
to shake them off, he would not succeed. Let me 
advise you as a friend, who has a regard for you, 
Avho wishes you well, that you entirely stifle your 
sentiments about this matter, and never mention 
them again, especially if you have any thoughts of 
becoming (as I pray God you may) a minister 
among us." And in a letter of a later date, he en- 
deavours to defend the observance of these days 
with some little zeal — " You say they are rather 
wicked or devilish days, than holy days ; — very 
true : but would the neglect of preaching on those 
days lessen the wickedness practised on them ? I 
say no. For by leaving off preaching, the days 
would not be abolished (as this cannot be done with- 
out the intervention of the Legislature) but left 
more at large to practise vice * * * This 
then being the case, it is undoubtedly best to preach 
as usual, as it certainly keeps a great many people 
who will not work, but come to church, out of the 
way of mischief. And, therefore, if you have any 
regard for yourself, for your Church, and for the 
advice of one who thinks himself your friend, con - 
form to the established customs and rules of the 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 201 

Church * * ; and however much I approve of 
your consulting Mr. Laidlie about other matters, 
relating to the good of the Church, I can by no 
means approve of your advising with him in 
matters wherein he stands, in my opinion, wrong 
affected." 

Mr. Livingston replied, to the full satisfaction of 
this gentleman. 

As the Church was situated at the time, and 
while the laws of the colony, then under the British 
government, recognised these days as holy, to 
observe them in conformity to established cus- 
tom, was not only prudent conduct, but truly a 
Christian duty ; and Mr. Livingston, in yielding to 
the wishes of his friends, acted a very commend- 
able part. It evinced a disposition to make any 
reasonable sacrifice for the sake of promoting the 
peace and prosperity of a Church, which had already 
suffered much from the violence of intestine dis- 
putes, and in which there were yet those who keenly 
watched the opportunity to excite some new con- 
troversy. It involved no abandonment or conces- 
sion of principle, inasmuch as it was distinctly 
understood, that these days were not believed tcTbe 
of Divine appointment, and would be observed 
dimply to prevent evil and edify the congregation : 

m 



292 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



and for submitting to the prejudice of the times, 
therefore, in a matter of no essential moment, with 
a view to preserve peace and do good, he was 
deserving of more praise than he would have been, 
if, reckless of the consequences, he had determined 
pertinaciously and vigorously to oppose it. There 
was much sound practical wisdom in the submission. 
But though the moderation is to be commended, 
wiiich, rather than insist upon the immediate aboli- 
tion of these days while there was such a strong 
prepossession in their favour, and the Church was 
in such peculiar circumstances, tolerated and rec- 
tified the use of them, it is not a little surprising 
that,even at the present day, their observance should 
be continued in many congregations. The 67th 
explanatory article of the constitution of the Church 
expressly declares, " that the Reformed Church 
does not believe the days, usually called holy days, 
are of Divine institution, or by preaching on those 
days, intends any thing more than to prevent evil, 
and promote the edification of the people, is 
evident from the contents of the 53d article of the 
Synod of Dordrecht, held in the year 1574." This 
article is in these words : — "With regard to feasts 
.days, upon which, besides the Lord's day, it has 
been customary to abstain from labour, and to 
assemble in the Church, it is resolved that we must 
be contented with the Lord's day alone. The 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



203 



usual subjects, however, of the birth of Christ, of his 
resurrection, and sending of the Holy Spirit, may be 
handled and the people be admonished, that these 
feast days are abolished." Hence it appears that 
the fathers of the Church considered the observance 
of these days, as resting solely upon the command- 
ments and doctrines of men ; and, though they 
retained them for the purpose of counteracting, by 
appropriate discourses, the influence of the papist- 
ical superstitions with which they were surround- 
ed, there certainly can be no good reason for such 
retention in a country where that influence is not 
to be dreaded : — or must they be kept for ever, 
merely to inform people, in succeeding ages, that 
they were abolished at the Reformation? To 
symbolize longer with Catholics of Rome, in this 
practice, is calculated, it is believed, to do more 
harm than good — to foster rather than prevent 
superstition. 

On the 28th of December, 1768, in compliance 
with the request of more than a hundred members 
of the congregation, the Consistory convened to 
receive a petition relative to the calling of another 
minister, which was then laid before them, praying 
they would look out for another English preacher, 
and intimating that the petitioners would be grati- 
fied with the invitation of Mr. Livingston. They 



3U4 KLSIDENCE IX HOLLAND. 

immediately and unanimously resolved that they 
would endeavour to ascertain whether a sufficient 
sum of money could be raised by subscription, to 
warrant the procedure solicited, and directed a 
subscription-paper to be prepared for the purpose. 
The friend * who advised him of these preparatory 
measures, thus concludes the account : " Almost 
every body I have heard, seems well pleased that 
you should be called, and so they appear to be with 
every part of your character. All they fear is, wheth- 
er you will have voice enough for our Church ; for 
if you have not, say they, we are undone ; what shall 
we do with a minister who cannot be heard through- 
out the Church 1 I could, therefore, heartily wish 
that you may for some time past have exercised 
your voice in the pulpit, as I am convinced it may 
be there much modelled and improved. And if it 
is strong enough, can't you get one or more of 3 T our 
friends to give a certificate about it, and enclose it 
to me ? Much good may come from such a step." 

By a letter from the same person, dated April 1, 
1769, it appears that the Consistory had the day 
before resolved to call Mr. Livingston ; and that 
the call, when made out, was to be sent to some 
Ministers in Amsterdam, with particular instruc- 



* Mr. Lott. 



KESIMNCfi IN HOLLAND. 



205 



tions not to deliver it, unless they were well assured 
that he had sufficient strength of voice to fill a 
large building. In another letter, written the fol- 
lowing June, he says : " Our third, or rather North 
Church, was opened for Divine service by Mr. 
Laidlie, on the 25th ult. (May,) by a very pathetic 
discourse from John 4th and 2Sd y showing wherein 
the true Gospel doctrine consists ; in which he ap- 
proved himself very much to the satisfaction of all 
who heard him, and particularly to our Governor, 
who honoured us with his presence on that occasion. 
Mr. Laidlie now preaches three times every 
Sunday ; to wit : in the morning and evening in the 
New, and in the afternoon in the North Church, to 
which if we add his catechising, you will agree 
his labours must be weighty. You cannot, there- 
fore, be surprised to hear our call to you to come 
over to our Macedonia to help us. May the ever 
blessed Jesus make your way prosperous to us, and 
may you come among us with a full blessing of the 
everlastingcovenant !" 

Having finished his studies at the university, 
Mr. Livingston appeared before the Classis of Am- 
sterdam, on the 5th June, 1769, to be examined for 
licensure, and the evidence given of his personal 
piety, and of his acquirements, literary and theolo- 
gical, being satisfactory to that rev. body, he be- 



206 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



came a candidate for the ministry, or what is called 
in Holland, a proponent. His first sermon he 
preached in the Dutch language, for the Rev. Mr. 
Van Issum, his examinator in the Classis, at Hil- 
versum, a village to the east of Amsterdam. 

Soon afterwards, he preached again in Dutch, at 
Purmerend, a small city in North Holland : — in 
English in the English Church in x\msterdam ; and 
again in English in the Scotch Church in Rotterdam, 
whether in the same building in which his distin- 
guished ancestor had often proclaimed the glad 
tidings of salvation, or another, is not known, but 
that it was the same is thought probable. 

This commencement of his public labours was 
of a very promising character. Enjoying, in no 
common degree, the confidence and esteem of nu- 
merous Christian friends, as ayoungman experimen- 
tally acquainted with the power of Divine grace ; * 
—with intellectual powers and attainments much 
above mediocrity ; — with a voice naturally weak 



* Among the letters and notes addressed to him about this time, 
by his Holland friends, there is one containing a postscript in 
these words ; " Mrs. ****** expresses her mos* 
friendly regards for the good Mr. Livingston — a familiar way, it 
would seem, of speaking of him, that shows the high estimation 
in which his piety was held. 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND* 



207 



and effeminate, and concerning which so many 
fears had been entertained and expressed in 
New- York, now greatly improved by the atten- 
tion he had paid to its modulation, and suscep- 
tible of the richest intonations; with a manner pe- 
culiarly interesting and solemn, he made by these 
early efforts in the pulpit a very favourable impres- 
sion. Of the opinion formed of his talents as a 
preacher, and of his qualifications for the situation 
to which he was invited, this fact is evidence 
enough — that in about a month after he was licen- 
sed, the call was put into his hands by the gentlemen 
who were conditionally charged with its delivery* 

Expecting to remain yet some time in Hollands 
and thinking, probably, that it might be of consider- 
able advantage to him to be able to produce when he 
should return to America, what was then regarded 
as a valuable testimonial of proficiency in theology, 
the degree of Doctor of Divinity, he concluded to 
present himself before the theological faculty of the 
university of Utrecht, a candidate for the same, 
And here it ought to be remarked, that it was not 
customary for that university to confer honorary 
degrees ; and that the distinction now sought, could 
not be obtained but by his submitting to a pretty 
severe ordeal. He must be examined and re- 
examined, and after being sifted by the learned 



208 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



Faculty for a whole day, he must produce and pre- 
pare himself to defend the next day, against the 
adverse arguments of the professors, two short 
discourses, the subjects of which are to be selected 
for him, the one from the Old Testament, and the 
other from the New. And he must answer, and 
write, and defend, altogether in the Latin language. 
Nor is this all, another dissertation is then to be 
prepared, and published in Latin, which he must 
publicly support before the whole university. 

Though by no means a person of the firmest 
nerve, Mr. Livingston ventured these appalling 
trials, and having passed the first with approbation, 
he was permitted to prepare for the second. Ac- 
cordingly, in the course of the next winter, he wrote 
a dissertation upon the Hinai covenant (" De 
Fcedere Sinaitico,") and sent it to the press. But 
he was now about to leave a country in which he 
had spent many happy hours, and formed many ten- 
der connexions — and the thought of separating from 
his beloved friends — the anxiety attending his pre- 
parations for a return — and possibly, too, some 
little dread of the public exhibition itself, for no 
one of any modesty and sensibility could look 
forward to such a trial without dreading it, 
produced a depression of spirits, that he could 
not then shake off, and led him to abandon his de- 



KKS1DE.NCE Ix\ HOLLAND. 209 

sign of appearing before the university. Under 
the influence of his present feelings, he suddenly 
stopped the printing of his dissertation, when he 
had received the first proof, and commenced a hasty 
travel to visit his friends in different places, for the 
last time, and bid them an affectionate adieu. 

From his notes of the incidents of tins period, if 
would appear, that he went first to Amsterdam., 
chiefly for the purpose of applying for ordination* 
The Classis met on the 2d of April, and at this 
meeting, they approved his call,* invested him 
with the ministerial office, and consigned him to the 
Church of New-York. This important business 
done, he begun in earnest the performance of the 
painful duty which the prospect of his departure, as 
not far off, imposed upon him ; and while at Rotter- 
dam, thus engaged, he received a letter from an 
Amsterdam friend, censuring his conduct in rela- 
tion to the theological degree, and strongly urging 
him to the final step necessary to its acquisition, 

That Mr. Livingston had no ambition, or that 
he was not at all desirous of distinction, nor gratifi- 
ed when it was bestowed, is not pretended. We 



* Another call was presented to him from one of the Churches 
in Amsterdam, but as it was not his intention to remain in Ho' - 
land, the call was respectfully declined. 

27 



210 RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 

have no wish to represent him in this Memoir, as 
free from the imperfections and weaknesses of hu- 
man nature ; but, while it is granted that he had his 
share of these, it is, nevertheless, believed that 
grace reigned in his heart, and that when he 
thought upon things of good report, or endeavour- 
ed to advance his reputation, he did so, rather to 
extend his usefulness in the Church, than to indulge 
an anxiety for the notice and applause of others. 
And it is believed that, in complying afterwards with 
the advice of his friend, he acted under a strong 
conviction of duty — a conviction that the degree 
sought would, if obtained, give some weight to his 
name, and would thus be a means of promoting his 
usefulness. He had a tender conscience — he was 
afraid of sin, and of the very appearance of sin ; and 
when he came to the conclusion of the letter, as 
he read the following quotation of scripture, "There- 
fore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it 
not, to him it is sin" the impression was irresisti- 
ble, that he would be chargeable with culpable neg- 
lect, seeing he was apparently so near the attain- 
ment of the object, if he now relinquished it — and 
the degree, as before hinted, possessed at that day, 
in the estimation of the Church, all the importance 
he attached to it. He, accordingly, determined to 
follow the advice given ; and set upon preparing, 
without delay, an abridgement of his dissertation 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



211 



for the press. Devoting his mornings to the work, 
and what he had previously written being fresh in 
his mind, he accomplished it with ease, during the 
few days he spent at Rotterdam and the Hague, in 
making farewell visits ; and upon his return to 
Utrecht, he had it printed. But the business was not 
yet finished, the severest task, and which would put 
his merits fully to the test, was still to be perform- 
ed. He must defend his little pamphlet against 
learned and well-practised disputants, before a 
large assembly, consisting of the professors and 
regents of the University, and many other eminent 
personages. 

The interesting and decisive day at length ar- 
rived : — It was the 16th day of May, 1770 ; — and 
Mr. Livingston was then just twenty-four years of 
age. The assembly convened at the appointed 
hour, a band of music attended, and much splen- 
did ceremony was observed upon the occasion- 
enough, indeed, to appal the courage of any candi- 
date for distinction ; and, no doubt, our young can- • 
didate, as he surveyed the imposing scene, could 
have said, — 

11 A faint, cold fear thrills through my veins, 
2C That almost freezes up the heat of life,' 1 

Several learned gentlemen controverted so'mfr 



212 RESiPENCE JN HOLLAND. 

of the positions advanced in his dissertation, but 
he successfully maintained them ; and the disputa- 
tion, which was in the Latin language, and lasted 
nearly two hours, affording sufficient evidence of 
his erudition, the professors, shortly after it termi- 
nated, conferred upon him, with the usual forms, 
the degree of Doctor of Theology. The diploma 
he received is signed by Meinardus Tydeman, 
Rector, and Franciscus Burnianmis, Doctor and 
Professor of Sacred Theology. 

Having now accomplished his wish, and having 
completed all the necessary preparations for his 
departure, Doctor Livingston took leave of Hol- 
land, and embarked at Helvetsluijs, for England, 
about the first of June, 1770. Upon his arrival at 
Harwich, to which place the passage had been a 
quick and agreeable one, he immediately passed up 
to London, and there tarried with Mr. John Har- 
rison, a respectable merchant of that city, with 
whom he had occasionally corresponded, and who 
had politely invited him to his house. 

He availed himself of his short stay in England 
to visit Oxford, and was introduced to Doctor 
Benjamin Kennicott, the celebrated Hebrew scho- 
lar, then engaged in that stupendous work to which 
Wblical criticism is so much indebted — the collation 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



218 



of Hebrew manuscripts. The Doctor had the ho- 
nour of breakfasting with this learned and indefati- 
gable Hebrician, and of being taken, after the repast, 
into the chamber where his amazing labours were 
performed. He had been already ten years em- 
ployed in the preparation of his Bible, and was now 
only about half through it. " He showed me," says 
the Doctor, "several of his most admired manu- 
scripts. The manner in which he proceeded was, 
to take one line from Van Der Hooght's Bible* 
which he considered to be the most correct copy of 
the Hebrew text, and paste that line upon the top 
of a page of a blank folio book, and then, under 
that line, to write all the variations which his manu- 
scripts furnished in that line." 

This extraordinary visit could not soon be forgot- 
ten ; but a most gratifying memorial of it, in the 
hand-writing of that distinguished man, was obtain- 
ed before they parted. In the Doctor's Album, 
which contains a variety of little sententious pieces 
in Greek, and Latin, and Dutch, with the names of 
Bonnet, Burmannus, Ravius, Tydeman, Vander- 
kemp, Elsnerus, and other eminent literati of 
Holland, underwritten, there are a few lines in He- 
brew characters, beautifully formed, and accompa- 
nied with this sign-manual— 

BENJ: KENNICOTT, 
E Coll: Exon : Own: 



RESIDENCE IN HOLLAND. 



Doctor Livingston remained about a month in 
England. He then sailed from Falmouth, for New- 
York, where, having been preserved during a 
long absence, under the shadow of the wings of a 
good God, and grateful for the mercies he had ex- 
perienced, he safely arrived on the third day of 
September, 1770. 



CHAPTER VL 



FROM HIS RETURN TO NEW-YORK, TILL THE CLOSE 
OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

It was on a Sabbath morning that Dr. Livingston 
reached the city of New- York, The peace and 
sacredness of God's day, while naturally repressive 
of levity of behaviour and superfluous congratula- 
tions upon the occasion of his return, well accorded 
with the feelings now predominant in his own 
breast, and in that of every pious member of the 
Church, and afforded an immediate opportunity for 
the devout and suitable expression of them in the 
sanctuary of the Lord. He had returned, by the 
favour of Heaven, with health restored, as a mes- 
senger of the Gospel of Peace, and to a numerous 
and respectable flock, bearing the peculiarly tender 
and solemn relation of a pastor. It was a season, 
therefore, without doubt, of holy joy and thanks- 
giving ; and, on account of many interesting recol- 
lections, which could not but be associated with it, 
as well as the new and mutual responsibilities it 
realized, both to him and to all his friends, the first 
interview must have been very affecting. The 



#16 SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 

succeeding Sabbath, he preached in the Middle 
Church, in Nassau-street, to a large and attentive 
auditory, from 1 Cor. I. 22, 23, 24— For the Jews 
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom : 
but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a 
stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness ; 
but unto them which are called both Jews and 
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom 
of God : — and having delivered this introductory 
sermon, he was then acknowledged, in a suitable 
manner, by the Rev. Messrs Ritzema and De 
Ronde, and Dr. Laidlie and the Consistory — one 
of the ministers of the Reformed Dutch Church 
of New- York. 

Dr. Livingston commenced the discharge of his 
pastoral duties with great diligence and zeal. He 
assumed at once a full share of pulpit and parochial 
labours ; preaching regularly twice on the Sabbath, 
making visits among the people, and attending two, 
and sometimes three, catechetical exercises even^ 
week — an amount of service, it will be admitted by 
all who are competent judges of the matter, which 
few young men, under similar circumstances, would 
have had the courage to undertake, and fewer still 
the ability satisfactorily to fulfil. But though only 
just settled in a populous city, where interruptions 
to study and occasional avocations, not always of 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



217 



a professional nature, are numerous and unavoid- 
able ; though connected with a large congregation 
whose situation was a little peculiar, provided with 
few sermons, and associated with colleagues of es- 
tablished character, as judicious and able preachers, 
he did not hesitate to attempt his part, and he per- 
formed it to general acceptance. 

The fervour of pious feeling which he uniformly 
discovered, both in and out of the pulpit ; his af- 
fectionate, dignified, and prudent deportment ; and 
the style of his preaching, novel, yet plain and for- 
cible, admirably calculated to engage attention, to 
alarm the consciences of sinners, and particularly 
to comfort and build up believers in faith and holi- 
ness, rendered him indeed in a high degree, beloved 
and popular. His labours, if arduous and weighty, 
were pleasant. Blessed with a number of godly 
and devoted friends, who sincerely and constantly 
prayed for him, and by various little attentions or 
expressions of kind solicitude, encouraged without 
flattering him, he was cheered and sustained in his 
work : blessed, too, with a coadjutor (Dr, Laidlie) 
who was well acquainted with the state of the con- 
gregation and who was, at any time, ready to afford 
Iiira all the counsel and assistance in his power, hp 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



totted with alacrity, and his reputation and use- 
fulness daily increased. 

It was necessary that he should apply himself 
closely to study : — and he was a hard and indefati- 
gable student : he employed every moment al- 
most, not otherwise occupied, in the vigorous pur- 
suit of knowledge, and in the preparation of his 
sermons : he read, and thought, and wrote with 
scarce any intermission, excepting what was re- 
quisite for attending to other important duties of 
his station. At the beginning of his ministry, he 
wrote his sermons entirely out, and committed them 
to memory ; but finding his health to be affected 
by such severe labour, he afterwards accustomed 
himself to preach from full notes, or what he called 
" a copious analysis." 

This mode of preaching gave a freer scope for 
the exercise of his powers : it was exactly suited 
to his peculiar gifts ; and often the amplitude of his 
intellectual views was so striking, and the degree 
of feeling with which he delivered his discourses 
was so strong, and his manner altogether of addres- 
sing his hearers, was so singular and impressive, 
that he was heard with the deepest attention and 
with delight. Pious and judicious persons con- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK 219 



sidered him a preacher of first-rate excellence^ 
and he soon acquired by his public ministra- 
tions, by the habitual suavity of his manners 
in private intercourse, and by his unwearied exer- 
tions to do good at all times and in all places, an 
influence which is rarely possessed by one so young 
in the service of his Master. 

This high standing in the Church, contributed 
greatly to the ultimate success of his endeavours 
to carry the plan that had been devised for promo- 
ting the general welfare of the Church. — Soon 
after his settlement in New- York, he sought with 
his characteristical prudence and zeal, to bring 
about a reconciliation between the Ccetus and Con- 
ferentie parties ; — an object which, as the reader 
has seen, lay, for years before, very near his heart, 
and which he had attempted, but in vain, to accom- 
plish when he was in Holland. The circumstance of 
his having been educated abroad, — his present con- 
nexion with the Church of New-York, which had 
happily, at no time, taken a part in the great con- 
troversy, — and his distinguished reputation, gained 
him, in a little while, an extensive acquaintance 
among the ministers of both parties, and conse- 
quently many opportunities of calling their atten- 
tion to the subject. These opportunities, when- 
ever presented, he failed not to improve. As an 



'£20 SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 

evidence of his assiduity, a paragraph from a letter 
which he wrote the following June, while he was 
paying a short visit to his friends at Poughkeepie, 
to Dr. Laidlie, * is here inserted. 6 6 What conver- 



*The love he bore his respected colleague is strongly expres- 
sed in the letter ; and, as a memorial of their pious friendship, a 
few additional extracts are subjoined, 

st My dearest Colleague and Brother in Christ, 

{< With pleasure I converse with you, though at such a dis- 
tance : past times seem to recur to my mind, when, at a greater 
distance, I expressed my love to you in this way. The Lord has 
been with me since I left you. On the water it was tedious, on 
account of the number of passengers. I arrived home on Friday, 
P.M. being 48 hours on the water. A kind providence to my 
whole family gives me fresh opportunity to rejoice in the goodness 
of the Lord. Last Sunday, A.M. I preached here, and was much 
assisted to speak of Jesus and salvation through his merits. I 
thought much of our Church in New-York the whole day, (as in- 
deed every day that is much on my heart,) and especially sympa- 
thized with my dear Laidlie ; my prayers were for you, that God 
would support and bless you. The country air, the new amuse- 
ments, and caresses of near relations, have refreshed both soul 
and body. I feel cheerful and hearty, and am convinced that it is 
necessary sedentary persons should now and then take tours of 
this kind. When I am walking* among the trees, and ascend a 
hill, or gain from any little eminence a fine extended prospect, I 
draw in the wholesome air, and am apt to say—* Man was made 
to live in the country, to trace the footsteps of his Maker's pow- 
er and wisdom in the vegetable world.' Nothing certainly but 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



22 1 



sation I have already had with some of the parti- 
zans in the Dutch Churches, I will communicate 
to you when I return to town. That bitter spirit, 
which has so much prevailed, begins to subside, and 
it is the general sentiment that something must be 
done in order to open the way for that regular es- 
tablishment so necessary for the education of youths 
for the ministry. As I have scarce time to write 
this letter hi haste, I shall refer this to a conversa- 
tion. You know the love I have for yourself will 
make your sentiments always weighty with me." 

It was stated in the last chapter, that articles of 
union had been referred to the parties respectively, 
by the Classis of Amsterdam ; and that in conse- 



the pleasures and superior advantages of society, can compensate 
for the loss of those pleasures which the country affords superior 
to the town. The more I am refreshed in my present situation, 
the more I wish to have you with me, a partaker in these rural 
delights. This, however, I know to be impossible ; but shall 
insist, on my return, that you take the same tour, as soon as your 
family and circumstances will permit yur leaving home, whilst 
your health and cheerfulness add to my own. * * * * * 

" I never feel how much I love you, as when I am absent from 
you. The Lord be with you, and give you what, as a father, he 
knows to be best. 

" Your most affectionate Friend and Brother, 

« June 11, 1771. J. H. L.« 



222 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



quence of its being proposed in them to form a 
connexion with Princeton College, and of the neg- 
lect of the Classis to order a convention of the 
Churches, to deliberate upon the plan, the refer- 
ence had proved abortive. 

Subsequently, and but a short time before the 
Doctor came back to his native country, the Classis 
was appointed by the Synod of North Holland, 
through his influence with this rev. body, a commit- 
tee, with plenary power to do whatever they might 
judge would be conducive to the interests of the 
American Church, and between the clerical mem- 
bers of the Classis and the Doctor, there existed a 
perfect understanding in relation to the plan 
which, after his return, should be offered to the 
consideration of his brethren. This plan, thus 
privately approved, it is probable was the old one 
new-shaped, the obnoxious article mentioned above 
being omitted ; or it embraced the same cardinal 
principles, which there was reason to believe would, 
when understood, be generally viewed as unexcep- 
tionable, and as constituting a suitable basis for a 
union of parties. 

The Doctor now found, upon conferring with 
pious and influential men of both parties, as he 
observes in the paragraph of his letter just quoted, 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 22$ 

that the bitter spirit, which had so much prevailed, 
begun to subside, or that the severity of temper 
and violence, which had heretofore marked the con- 
troversy, were no longer to be seen, and a desire 
for the adoption of some project that would give 
satisfaction to all concerned, appeared to be che- 
rished ; he, therefore, ventured to hint at one. He 
did not at once exhibit that which he had provided, 
but in a modest and discreet manner, endeavoured 
first to learn the sentiments of those with whom he 
conversed, with respect to the great objects it con- 
templated, and then to remove objections, if any 
were made, in order to prepare the way for its 
acceptance. 

By this prudent procedure, he soon became 
convinced that the articles in his possession would 
be favourably received by the Church, and that it 
was expedient to adopt some measure, without de- 
lay, for the purpose of laying them formally before 
it. He accordingly suggested to his Consistory, 
that as the\ had not engaged on either side of the 
unhappy dispute, their influence, if used, could pro- 
bably procure a general convention, and proposed 
that letters, stating the object in view — requesting 
the attendance of every minister belonging to the 
Church, and of one elder from every congregation, 
and fixing the time and place of meeting, should be 



224 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



forthwith despatched in their name. The Consis- 
tory promptly complied with his wishes, and in the 
following October, the convention was held at 
New- York. 

The minutes of the body are headed " Acts of the 
Reverend Assembly of Ministers and Elders of the 
Reformed Low Dutch Churches in the Provinces 
of New- York and New-Jersey, convened in the 
city of New- York, on the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th 
days of Oct. 1771, at the friendly request of the Rev. 
Consistory of New- York, for the purpose of pro- 
curing peace and unity to said Churches." And 
the first Article, which relates to the arrival and 
introduction of the members, is in part in these 
words : " The Rev. Brethren having arrived and 
being convened, were solemnly welcomed by the 
Rev. John H. Livingston, S.S. T. D., and Minister 
in New- York. After the delivery of an appro- 
priate sermon by the Rev. Mr. De Ronde, who had 
been appointed by the Consistory to preach at the 
opening of the Assembly, the President was chosen, 
and the choice is thus recorded. The Rev Dr. 
John H. Livingston, minister in New- York as pre- 
sent Proeses of the conciliating Consistory of New- 
York, and with the knowledge and approbation of 
his Rev. Colleagues, was chosen President." 



SETTLEMENT JN NEW-YORK. 



The assembly then appointed a committee, conn 
sisting of two ministers and two elders of the Rev, 
Costus — two ministers and two elders of the Rev. 
Conferentie — and two ministers and two elders 
from the neutral churches ofNew-York and Albany, 
to prepare a formula of Union ; and when the com- 
mittee met to attend to this business, the Doctor 
disclosed the plan * which had been digested and 



* As the Doctor himself was, without doubt, the author of this 
plan, or of the greater part of it, and as its adoption had an 
important influence over the state of the Church — an influence 
that renders that adoption one of the most memorable and propi- 
tious events recorded in her history — the reader will probably 
gratified to see the whole of it. 

Preliminaries. 

il Whereas, certain misconceptions concerning the bond of 
union between the Churches in this country and those in Holland, 
have been the unhappy causes of the past troubles : In order, 
therefore, to prevent these in future, and in consequence of the 
advice and direction of the reverend Classis of Amsterdam, in 
their last letter to us, we unite ourselves in one body, and we 
agree with each other to regulate our church government, and 
union with the mother Church in Holland, in the following 
manner: — 

ARTICLE I 
Adherence to the Constitution of the Church. 
We adhere, in all things, to the Constitution of the Nethertagd 

29 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



prepared in Holland, and which his brethren there 
had agreed that he should submit to the Church in 



Reformed Church, as the same was established in the Church or- 
ders of the Synod of Dordrecht, in the years 1618 and 1619. 

ARTICLE II. 

Consistories, 

"The Consistories shall always be appointed, and their busi- 
ness conducted agreeably to the Constitution of the Netherland 
Churches. 

ARTICLE III. 

Organization of the superior Church Judicatories. 
" In addition to the above, we organize or establish, according 
to the counsel and advice of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, 
approved in the Synod of North Holland, such ecclesiastical 
assemblies as are consistent with the government and constitu- 
tion of the Netherland Church, and our relation to the same ; 
which judicatories shall be distinguished by such names as shall 
hereafter be determined. 

ARTICLE IV. 
Number of these in general. 
" These judicatories shall be two in number, which we provi- 
sionally call the particular and general assembly, till their names 
shall be more particularly agreed upon. 

ARTICLE V. 

Matters to be discussed in the Particular Assemblies. 
" In the particular assemblies, all matters regarding the inte- 
rests of subordinate congregations, and which cannot be determi- 
ned by the Consistories, shall, in the first instance, be regularly 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



227 



this country. The committee examined the same 
with great care, and having made a few slight addi- 



brought forward, and acted upon, («ven to the suspension of mi- 
nisters for improper conduct,) before they can be brought up to a 
higher tribunal , 

ARTICLE VI. 

Members of these Assemblies. 
" At these assemblies, each minister, with his elder, belonging 
to the same, and furnished with suitable ecclesiastical credentials, 
shall attend at the appointed time and place. With respect to ab- 
sentees, special regulations may afterwards be made. 

ARTICLE VII. 

JV* umber of these Assemblies. 
" These assemblies shall be five in number. This number 
may, nevertheless, hereafter be increased by the General Assem- 
bly, and the place of meeting changed, as circumstances shall 
require. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Three in the Province of New-York, and two in Neiv- Jersey. 
" Three of these assemblies shall be held in the province of 
New-York, and two in the province of New-Jersey. 

ARTICLE IX. 
One in the city of New-York. 
" In the province of New- York, one shall be held in the city 
of New-York ; to which shall belong all the Low Dutch Reform- 
ed Churches, whatever their language may be, on Long Island, 
in the city and county of New- York, and in the county of West 



228 SETTLEMENT IN NEW- YORK. 



tions and changes, resolved to report it to the assem- 
bly. The assembly approved it unanimously, or at 



Chester. Whether the Churches in the county of Richmond shall 
belong to this assembly, is not yet determined. 

ARTICLE X. 

One in Kingston. 
"Another shall be held in Kingston, to which shall belong the 
Churches of Dutchess and Ulster counties, and the congregation 
of the Camp. 

ARTICLE XL 

One in Albany. 

" A third shall be held alternately in Albany and Schenectady, 
to which shall belong the Churches in the counties of Albany, 
Glocester and Cumberland, 

ARTICLE XII. 

One in Brunswick. 
"In the province of New-Jersey, one shall be held at New- 
Brunswick, to which shall belong the Churches in the counties 
of Richmond, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterton and 
Sussex. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

One in Hackensack. 
" The other shall be at Hackensack, to which shall belong those 
of the counties of Bergen, Orange, Essex and Morris. 

ARTICLE XIV. 
Time of Meeting. 
u These assemblies, on account of the distance of the respec- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



229 



least, without a dissentient voice, with the under- 
standing, that before it should be finally adopted or 



tive members from each other, shall not hold more than one ordi- 
nary meeting in each year. The particular time of meeting is 
deferred to a future opportunity. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Correspotidents. 

" When these particular assemblies shall correspond with each 
other, and in what manner, is also deferred. 

ARTICLE XVI. 
General Assembly. 
" In addition to the above, a General Assembly shall be held 
every year, composed of delegates from each particular as- 
sembly. 

ARTICLE XVII. 
Members of the same. 
u To this rev. assembly, shall be delegated from each particu- 
lar assembly, two ministers, each with an elder, furnished with 
suitable credentials. 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

Place of Meeting. 
" The meetings of this general assembly shall be held alter- 
nately at New-York and Kingston; the rev. assembly shall, 
nevertheless, have liberty of appointing a third place of meeting 

in the province of New- Jersey. 

# 

ARTICLE XIX. 

Time of Meeting 
"The time of meeting shall be considered hereafter, and ap- 



230 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



be considered as having the binding power of a 
solemn compact, it should be referred to the judg- 



pointed in the most suitable season, and so as to be most conve- 
nient for the particular assemblies. 

ARTICLE XX. 

Examination, Preparation, and Peremption. 
" For this General Assembly, with the approbation of the Rev. 
Synod of North Holland, and the Rev Chassis of Amsterdam, 
we assume the long-wished-for right of examining candidates for 
licensure and for the ministry ; and also further to qualify those 
who are lawfully called, as the same is practised in the Nether- 
lands. A list of all those who have been examined and ordained, 
as also of the newly settled and removed ministers, shall be kept 
in our yearly acts, and sent over with a request to the Rev. Clas- 
sis of Amsterdam, that they may be carefully inserted in the regis- 
ter of ministers, and numbered by them among the North Ame- 
rican preachers in both provinces. 

ARTICLE XXI. 

Matters to be treated oj in the General Assembly, 
" All Church matters which cannot be determined in the parti- 
cular assemblies shall, when regularly brought up, receive their 
complete and final decision in the General Assembly. In some 
particular cases, the following rules shall be adopted : 

ARTICLE XXII. 

Union with the Church of Holland. 
" To preserve in the best possible manner, the bond of union 
with our highly esteemed mother Church, (which we greatly de- 
sire,) there shall first be sent every year a complete copy of all 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 231 



merit of the Classis of Amsterdam. The prime 
mover in the whole matter, it is probable in the first 



the acts of our general assembly, signed by the Prceses and Scriba, 
for the time being, to the Classis of Amsterdam, as duly named 
by the Synod of North Holland for that purpose. 

ARTICLE XXIII. 

Jlppeals concerning Doctrines. 
" Secondly — Whenever differences may arise on important 
doctrines among the brethren, whether ministers or communicants, 
a decision on which might be matter of grievance to some, the 
case in difference shall be left to the judgment of the Rev. Clas- 
sis, or if need be, to the Rev. Synod of North Holland, according 
to whose decision the general assembly, as well as the condemned 
party, shall conform or act. 

ARTICLE XXIV. 

Depositions. 

"In case a minister, on account of doctrine or life, shall be 
deposed, and conceive himself aggrieved by such deposition, 
he shall have the liberty of laying his case before the Rev. Classis 
of Amsterdam, or through it before the Rev. Synod, for their 
judgment, whether he may be called again or not; and the gene- 
ral assembly, with the deposed minister, shall be bound to submit 
to the judgment of the Rev. Classis. In the mean time, however, 
in consequence of the length of time required for deciding such 
an unhoped-for case, the congregation of the deposed minister, if 
they request it, shall be furnished with another pastor. 

ARTICLE XXV. 

•Approbation oj Calls. 
" It is agreed, that the approbations of the calls of candidates 



232 SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



instance, suggested the propriety of such a refer- 
ence, and it was a masterly stroke of policy. — It 



on their exam, peremp. shall be given by the general assembly, 
but that of ministers, considering the wants of the Church, shall 
be given by the particular assembly to which the calling congre- 
gation belongs. 

ARTICLE XXVl. 
Visitation of the Churches. 
" Concerning the visitation of Churches, there shall be par- 
ticular regulations adopted in the general assembly which is to be 
organized. 

ARTICLE XXtll. 

Extraordinary Meetings. 
" Extraordinary meetings of the general and particular assem- 
blies may be held for the examination and decision of matters, 
which, for urgent reasons, cannot be deferred till the ordinary 
meeting. These meetings may be called by the last Presses and 
Scriba of the respective assemblies. 

ARTICLE XXVIII. 

Projessorate. 

"Concerning the professorate, we will act according to the ad- 
vice of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, viz. we will provision- 
ally choose one or two professors to teach didactic, elenchtic, exe- 
getic, &c. theology, according to the received doctrines of our 
Low Dutch Reformed Church ; to which office we, according to 
the judgment of the Classis, will choose, on favourable terms, 
such divines from the Netherlands as are of acknowledged learn- 
ing, piety and orthodoxy, and immutably attached to the Neth- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 2&J 

displayed the wisdom of the serpent, without any 
of his noxious qualities.— While, on the one hand. 

erland formulas of union, said Classis having promised to recom- 
mend suitable characters, 

ARTICLE XXIX. 
Further regulations respecting the Professorate. 
u The professor or professors above-mentioned, as soon as the 
wished for reconciliation in this country is obtained, and finally 
established, shall be chosen and called, on a sufficient salary ? 
though not without the approbation of the general assembly, with 
this provision, that such professor or professors shall not stand in 
any connexion with English academies, but shall give lectures on 
theology, in their own dwellings, to such students only who can 
produce testimony that they have studied two or three years at a 
college or academy, under approved teachers, and improved them- 
selves in preparatory studies, such as the languages, philosophy, 
&c. Such professor or professors shall also preach once every 
month or fortnight, in Dutch or English, as well to assist the mi- 
nister of the place where he or they reside, as to afford the stu- 
dents a good model of preaching ; in consequence of which, the 
reverend professor or professors, shall be subject to the particular 
and general assemblies, in the same manner as is already speci- 
fied particularly of the ministers, 

ARTICLE XXl. 
Provisional Exception. 
" Nevertheless, since we, according to the condition stipulated 
by the Classis, can cherish no hopes of reaping the fruits of the 
above-mentioned professorate, for a long time to come, we are of 
opinion, as there are now a number of students with one or other 



234 SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 

the Coetus brethren were gratified with the recog- 
nition of principles for which they had long conten- 

minister, who probably will in a short time be fitted for the exam, 
prepar. that these students ought, in consequence of the great 
need of the Churches, to be provisionally examined at the next 
meeting of our general assembly. 

ARTICLE XXXI, 
Schools under the care oj the Churches. 
" Finally, the respective congregations shall hereafter make it 
their business to establish public or private schools, in which, un- 
der the direction of Consistories, instructions shall be given as 
well in the languages as in the fundamental principles or doc- 
trines of the Reformed Dutch Church, as the same are taught in 
our Low Dutch Churches. 

GRIEVANCES. 

ARTICLE I. 

" Concerning those congregations who have two Consistories 
and two ministers, it would be desirable that they should unite in 
one body ; but where this is impracticable, matters shall remain in 
statu quo, till means and opportunities shall be found, in God's 
providence, to lead to this union. 

ARTICLE II. 

" To those congregations who have one minister, but two con- 
sistories, it is earnestly recommended that they unite in one Con- 
sistory. The reverend brethren shall likewise avail themselves 
of every opportunity which offers, by brotherly exhortation, to 
effect the same ; as also, for those congregations which are situ- 
ated, as stated in the first article, whilst we cordially supplicate 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



235 



cled ; the pride of the Conferentie, on the other, was 
no less gratified with the proposed reference, as it 



the God of peace to remove all remaining grievances from such 
congregations. 

ARTICLE III. 
(< Since, during the past troubles, some persons have been 
ordained for the holy ministry, whose examination and ordination 
is not deemed valid by some of the brethren, yet for peace sake, 
rather than that the contemplated union should not be accomplish- 
ed, these brethren agree, that every one whom the Rev. Ccetus 
acknowledges as an ordained minister, shall be considered as 
such, and in that capacity take his seat in our assemblies, not 
doubting but the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam will agree with us 
in this particular* 

ARTICLE IV. 
kS Since the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, in one of their last 
letters, express themselves favourably of the Rev. Hermanus 
Meyer, from which it plainly appears that they would fondly see 
a re-union between him and his congregation, if it was possible : 
we are of opinion, that in case that reverend brother accedes to 
the aforesaid articles of union, and subjects himself to this ar- 
rangement, such subjection is a sufficient ground to give him, as 
our esteemed brother, a seat and voice in the above-mentioned 
particular and general assemblies, whilst the reverend assemblies, 
as soon as they are organized in the manner specified, with the 
advice of the Rev. Classis, will offer their friendly aid for adjust- 
ing the differences between him and the congregation of King- 
ston, in case the wished for union between them is not previously- 
accomplished. 



SETTLEMENT M NEW-YORK. 



fully accorded with the principle which they had 
maintained, and which gave to the Classis a para- 
mount and decisive authority over the concerns of 
the American Church. 



CONCLUDING ARTICLES. 

ARTICLE I, 

Exception, 

V The preceding articles shall not be binding in cases where 
they are hostile to any privileges granted by charter to any 

Church., 

ARTICLE IL 

Binding force of these Article*. 
, As soon as these articles are constitutionally received and 
approved by this assembly, each member shall provisionally give 
the other the hand of brotherhood or fellowship, in hopes that the 
Rev. Classis and our respective congregations will approve and 
ratify the same, but they shall not be obligatory before such ap- 
probation of them shall be given by our respective congregations 
and the Rev. Classis, 

ARTICLE III. 
Since the Committee have the satisfaction to be unanimous 
in their opinion on these articles, subject however, to superior 
judgment, it is their cordial desire and prayer, that this reverend 
assembly may adopt the same, that the long-wished-for-union 
may, if possible, be effected according to these articles, which 
may the God of peace and love grant of his mercy. 
v New-York, October 1 8th, 1 771 . 

" Signed by the above-mentioned Committee*," 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



237 



It was a measure admirably adapted to the pre- 
possessions of both parties, and could hardly fail to 
render each pleased with itself and pleased with 
the other, too ; and, that such was the result, is evi- 
dent from the concluding article, which reads thus — 
" After giving each other the right hand of fellow- 
ship, the committee, as also the Rev. Consistory of 
New- York, were openly and formally thanked for 
their friendly and brotherly services ; and, after fer- 
vent thanksgiving to God, for this unexpected bless- 
ing, accompanied with ardent supplications to the 
throne of grace, for a further completion of this 
holy union work, as also for the prosperity and well- 
being of the Church, they parted in peace, and love, 
and joy. 

(Signed) ' 4 John H. Livingston, Prceses> 
Isaac Rysdyk, Scriba, 
Eilardus Westerlo, Scriba" 

The convention having proceeded as far in the 
business as was then deemed advisable, adjourned 
to meet again the next October ; and, in the mean- 
time, what they had already done with so much 
harmony and good feeling, had a gradual and salu- 
tary operation in purging out the old leaven, and 
diffusing a spirit of forbearance and love through the 
Church, To present a specimen of these whole- 



238 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



some effects, a part of a letter from the Rev. Mr. 
Hardenbergh to Dr. Livingston, dated Raritan, 
July 21, 1772, must be given. — " I have the satis- 
faction to inform you, that the Monday after I re- 
turned home, my Consistory at the North Branch, 
had a meeting with the anti-consistory in that con- 
gregation. We found them extremely friendly, and 
well-disposed for peace. In less than an half hour, 
we settled all our disputes. Our Consistory elect- 
ed two from among their party — one for an Elder, 
and another for a Deacon, with which they seemed 
very well satisfied, and upon that dropt their Con- 
sistory, or thus united the two into one. Here I 
hope have ended, in less than half an hour, tedious, 
perplexing, and pernicious disputes, which have 
subsisted in these congregations for above fifteen 
years past. Blessed be God, that my eyes have 
beheld the healing of this breach in our Church, 
before I have been gathered to my fathers." 

Pursuant to adjournment, the Convention assem- 
bled in October, 1772, and the letter of Classis, 
officially certifying that the plan of union had been 
approved by them, was laid before it. Every 
member then subscribed the articles, and the good 
work was thus formally and solemnly consum- 
mated. 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 239 



This event proved a most auspicious one for the 
Dutch Church, in America, and the distinguished 
agency of Dr. Livingston in bringing it about, 
under the direction and blessing of heaven, has 
encircled his name with perennial glory. As the 
original projector, and the prayerful, prudent, and 
persevering promoter of the union, he will be in 
grateful and honourable remembrance while the 
Church exists. There were others, it is granted, 
who zealously co-operated with him in this difficult 
and weighty matter, as Doctors Laidlie, Westerlo, 
and Romeyn, and the Rev. Messrs. Hardenbergh, 
Light, Ver Breyck and Rysdyck ; and the judicious 
and highly useful efforts of these clerical worthies 
to restore peace must not be forgotten : but Dr, 
Livingston is pre-eminently entitled to the precious 
and enduring honour of having been the Peace 
Maker. The station to which he was elevated in 
the convention, though he had then been only about 
a year in the ministry, by the unanimous vote of his 
brethren, is an indisputable evidence of the opinion 
entertained by them respecting the service he had 
rendered, and his superior right, on account of it 
to preside over their deliberations. 

When he was but a youth, thinking that a union 
might be effected, spite of the animosities so preva- 
lent at the time, he felt a strong desire to do something 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



towards its accomplishment: when residing in a 
foreign country, he laboured with zeal to promote 
the great object : and when he returned, like the 
dove which had been sent forth out of the ark, he 
came back with an olive leaf in his mouth, and 
ceased not from his laudable exertions, until he had 
the pleasure of seeing his brethren dwelling toge- 
ther in unity. And it ought to be further remarked, 
that upon his pacific plan, as a foundation, a noble 
and beautiful superstructure has since been raised* 
Soon after its adoption, and in conformity to some of 
its provisions, a course of measures was commen- 
ced, as the sequel will show, for building up the 
Church, which has at length been crowned with 
the most gratifying success, — which has imparted 
to her a form, a strength, a dignity, pleasant to the 
eyes of all who take an interest in her welfare : and 
let not this labour of love, so estimable in itself 
considered, and connected in the providence of 
God, with such eminent benefits to the Church, be 
ever under-rated. 

In point of popularity and influence, Dr. Living- 
ston was now, probably, second to no minister in the 
Dutch Church ; and, as a proof of the respect he 
had excited, it may be proper to state, that at a 
meeting of the trustees of Queen's College, held 
in the spring of 1772, a motion was made to elect 
him President of that Institution, which would ttfi- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 241 

doubtedly have succeeded, had it been tried, but it 
was judged prudent to postpone the election, until 
after the next meeting of the general assembly.* 
Shortly after, he received the following polite note 
from President Dagget, of Yale College. 

" Sir, 

As I am informed that you have been ho- 
noured with a Doctorate in Holland, I would be glad 
to have a sight of your diploma (which I will safely 
reconvey to you,) that I may make an entry of it on 
our College Records, and certify, in the catalogue, 
the university by which it was given. 

" I do, with pleasure, look upon our College ho- 
noured by the honours deservedly conferred on any 
who owe a little part of their education to it." 

It is presumed that the Doctor yielded to the 
complimental request.— And another circumstance 



* Information of this fact was communicated to him in a letter 
from the Rev. J. Light, of New-Brunswick, dated in May, 1772, 

This gentleman, it appears by a note in the Christian's Maga- 
zine, " was active in promoting the independence of the Dutch 
Church in America. He published several very respectable pam- 
phlets on the subject, which were answered by the Rev. Mr 
Ritzema, of New-York." 

31 



24£ SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 

occurred about this time, which is not altogether 
unworthy of notice. He was elected a member of 
the Society of the Hospital in the City of New 
York — a small, it may be in the opinion of some, 
but nevertheless, a pleasing and pretty good evi- 
dence of the regard cherished for him as a bene- 
volent and excellent man, for only citizens of the 
highest standing in the community for moral worth, 
it is believed, have ever been chosen to govern that 
humane and useful institution. 

The Doctor felt too much the power of religion 
upon his heart, and was naturally of too kind a 
disposition, not to take a deep interest in associa- 
tions formed for charitable purposes, or to give them 
that assistance and support which duty required ; 
but it was in the Church, and in that section of it 
especially in which his lot had been cast, that he 
found his appropriate sphere of action. Here there 
was a great deal to be done for the promotion of 
\he Redeemer's kingdom, and to this great work 
he unremittingly and zealously devoted himself till 
the close of life. 

To strengthen and perpetuate the coalition 
which he had been the honoured instrument of 
effecting, and to raise the character of the Church, 
the project was conceived of procuring, as speedi- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



US 



ly as possible, the appointment and settlement in 
some suitable place, of a Professor of Theology : 
and, in condescension to the respective predilec- 
tions of the brethren, who till lately had been long 
arrayed against each other, it was proposed to 
make a vigorous effort to provide the funds that 
would be needed for the maintenance of a theolo- 
gical professor in Queen's College, and then to 
send to Holland for a professor. 

The project was adopted, and moneys were col- 
lected for this end, in most or all of the Churches 
that had acceded to the union. The Convention 
of Ministers and Elders, which met at Kingston in 
October, 1773, submitted some overtures to the 
Trustees of the College, and sent a letter to the 
Classis of Amsterdam, upon the subject of the 
professorate.* In this letter, after observing that 
students could be educated at New-Brunswick with 
little expense—that there were Churches in the 



*The Rev. Dr Dewitt, in his sermon upon the death of Dr. L. 
referring to the foundation which had been laid by the Convention 
of 1771, for a theological professorship, makes the following just 
observation: — " The Reformed Dutch Church is thus entitled to 
the credit of having first contemplated and adopted a system of 
theological education in this country, which has received the ap- 
probation, and been followed by the practice of almost all hev 
sister churches. 



244 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW- YORK. 



province of New-York unwilling to make any con- 
tributions to the support of the professorate — that 
£4,000 had been subscribed for it — that a majority 
of its friends wished to have it connected with 
Queen's College, and that that institution was pro- 
vided with an ample charter ; they request that the 
Classis would select and endeavour to obtain for 
them, a person well qualified to discharge the duties 
of a professor of theology. In August, 1774, the 
Trustees of the College addressed a letter to the 
Convention, in which they gently notice, in the first 
place, the anxiety of this body to have the funds 
raised in the province of New- York properly se- 
cured, but ascribing it to " a commendable fore- 
cast of future vicissitudes," declare " their readi- 
ness to enter into the proposed engagements." — 
They then add — " As the College funds, amounting 
to about £4,000, fall far short of what is necessary 
for engaging to a professor from Holland, a com- 
petent salary, * * and the recommendation of such 
a professor is daily expected from thence ;the aug- 
menting of said funds demands our immediate and 
most serious attention, in order to enable the 
trustees to make out a call for the person recom- 
mended. And as it is reasonable to suppose, that 
the professor of divinity is the more immediate 
object of your concern, we declare it as our opi- 
nion, that whenever the Trustees of Queen's Col- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW- YORK. £45 

lege shall remember the chief end of their incorpo- 
ration, and regard the increase of students in this 
seminary, they will esteem it their duty and privi- 
lege to call the professor of divinity, on the re- 
commendation of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, 
and the communication thereof to your reverend 
assembly : nor will they have any objection to the 
making him, at the same time, President of the Col- 
lege, provided it can be done without detriment to 
the collegiate community or theological faculty." 

The Classis, it seems, to execute, in the best 
manner possible, the important business which had 
been confided to them, had determined to solicit 
advice of the theological faculty of Utrecht, and 
not being able, as it is presumed, conveniently to 
obtain the desired advice, till after the opening of 
the university in the autumn of 1774, postponed, of 
course, their answer to the assembly. 

A letter from them was received, however, in or 
near the following spring, and being opened by a 
Committee that had been appointed to inspect its 
contents immediately upon its arrival, with power 
to call, if it should be judged expedient to do so, an 
extra meeting of the assembly,— it was found that 
they had unanimously recommended the election 
of Doctor Livingston as the professor. The letter 
of professor Bonnet was enclosed in that of the 



t46 SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK, 

Classis, and both extolled him as a person well 
qualified for the office, and to be preferred to any 
one that could be sent from Holland ; but in case 
he should decline the office, the assembly was 
requested to state particularly the salary that would 
be attached to it, in order that the Classis, in looking 
out a Holland divine to fill it, might feel themselves 
authorized to make a definite offer in that respect. 

The Classical letter was dated Jan. 14, 1775 ; 
and the Committee having read it, pursuant to the 
power vested in them, issued circular letters, calling 
the assembly to meet in New- York in the month of 
May of the same year.— The call was obeyed ; but 
as the battle which constituted the first scene to the 
great drama of the revolutionary contest had been 
fought only a few days before at Lexington, Mass., 
such was the state of feeling prevailing in conse- 
quence at the time, that the members hastily termi- 
nated their session, after recommending the obser- 
vance, throughout all their Churches, of a day of 
fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The particular 
business for which they had assembled, was neces- 
sarily deferred. 

Hostilities with Great Britain had now commen 
ced in earnest; and it being supposed that the 
enemy would early seek the occupation of New- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW- YORK* 



247 



York, which was in a defenceless situation, many 
of the citizens deemed it a prudent step to remove 
their families into the country, and accordingly did 
remove them in the fall of 1775 ; but a much greater 
number left the city in the spring and summer of 
the following year. 

Philip Livingston^ Esq., a distinguished patriot 
and a member of Congress,* was among the first to 



*This gentleman was the fourth son of Philip, who was the 
eldest son of Robert, and a grandson of the celebrated John 
Livingston, that died at Rotterdam. The following notice of him 
is extracted from a Biography of distinguished persons in 
America = 

" Philip Livingston, one of the Signers of the Declaration of 
Independence, was a member of the family which has long been 
distinguished in the state of New-York, and was born at Albany ? 
January 15th, 1716. He was graduated at Yale College in 1737. 
With the superior advantages of an excellent education, he em- 
barked in mercantile pursuits, and was soon engaged in extensive 
operations ; and his inflexible integrity, and enlarged and compre- 
hensive views, laid the foundation, and erected the structure of 
extraordinary prosperity, His first appearance in public life was 
in September, 1754, when he was elected an alderman of the city 
of New- York. From this period, he continued to fill various and 
important trusts under the Colonial Government, till he took a 
decided and energetic stand against the usurpations of Great 
Britain. 



248 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK. 



take this step, and in the month of Oct. conveyed 
his little household to Kingston, a town some dis- 



" Mr. Livingston was chosen a member of the first Congress, 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774. In 
this assembly, he took a distinguished part, and was appointed 
on the Committee to prepare an address to the people of Great 
Britain. 

" He was re-elected a delegate in 1775, with full power to 
concert with delegates of other colonies, upon such measures as 
should be judged most effectual for the preservation and re-esta- 
blishment of American rights and privileges. 

" On the fourth of July, 1766, he affixed his signature to the 
Declaration of Independence. 

" On the 15th July, 1766, he was chosen by Congress a mem- 
ber of the Board of Treasury, and on the 29th of April follow- 
ing, a member of the Marine Committee ; two important trusts, 
in which the safety and well-being of America were essentially 
involved. 

" On the 13th of May, 1777, the State Convention re-elected 
him to Congress, and at the same time thanked him and his col- 
leagues for their long and faithful services rendered to the colony 
and state of New- York. 

" Mr. Livingston's attendance in Congress did not, however, 
preclude his employment at home, in affairs of importance. He 
served in every capacity in which he could be useful in the coun- 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW -YORK- #49 

tance up the Hudson, in the county of Ulster, 
New- York. 

With Sarah, the youngest daughter of tliis 
gentleman, Dr. Livingston had previously entered 
into a matrimonial engagement; and, in the same 
month, shortly after the settlement of the family in 
its new place of abode, they were united in the 
conjugal state. This event proved to the Doctor 
one of the happiest in his life. Indeed, he could 
scarcely have formed, in all respects, a more felici- 
tous connexion, for she was a lady of good sense, 
of a mild and affectionate disposition, of great pru» 



cils of his state. He assisted in framing a constitution for the 
state, and, on its adoption, was chosen a senator under it, 

" In October, 1777, he was re-elected to Congress under the 
n ew Constitution, and took his seat in Congress in May, 177S ? 
one of the most critical and gloomy periods of the Revolution, 
and incessantly devoted his whole faculties to the salvation of his 
country. He expired at York, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of 
June, 1778. 

" A short time previous to his demise, he sold a portion of his 
property to sustain the public credit ; and though he sensibly felfc 
the approach of death, owing to the nature of his complaint, he 
did not hesitate to relinquish the endearments of a beloved family, 
and devote the last remnant of his illustrious life to the service of 
his country, then enveloped in the thickest gloom," 

m 



2bO 



SETTLEMENT IN NEW-YORK 



dence, of sincere and ardent piety ; and he thus 
became allied to other families among the most 
respectable in the colony.* 

Dr. Livingston was himself a sincere and deci- 
ded friend to the American cause. — It was the 
earnest wish of his heart that the war begun, 
might result in the establishment of his country's 
independence, and, like a number of patriotic and 
pious ministers of the city, offered his fervent 
prayers to God for its ultimate success ; f but 



*The eldest daughter of Philip married the late Stephen Van 
Renssalaer, Esq., of Albany, and was the mother of the gentle- 
man now living, of the same name and place, whose patriotic 
services, amiable deportment, and princely liberality, in the promo- 
tion of science and religion, are well known. The second mar- 
ried Dr. Thomas Jones, a learned and respectable physician of 
New- York, and was the mother of Mrs. Clinton, the widow of 
the late much lamented Governor of the state of New- fork. 

|The Rev. Dr. Miller, in his Memoirs of the late venerable Dr. 
Rodgers,says— For a considerable time before this crisis arrived, 
Dr. Rodgers and several other clergymen of the city, among - whom 
were Dr. Mason and Dr. Laidlie, had been in the habit of hold- 
ing weekly meetings, for cultivating friendship with each other, 
and for mutual instruction. Toward the close of 1775, the gen- 
tlemen concerned, agreed to suspend their usual exercises at 
these meetings, and to employ the time, when they came together, 
in special prayer for a blessing upon the country, in the struggle 
on which it was entering. This meeting, thus conducted, was 



neither political nor religious principle made it his 
duty to remain in New- York, when that would be 
only an unnecessary exposure of his life, and the 
greater part of the people of his charge had fled 
into different parts of the country, to places of 
more safety. He, therefore, resided in the excel- 
lent family with which he had recently become con- 
nected, and visited the city for the performance of 
ministerial duty, as often as it was practicable, and 
as long as it was considered proper to continue 
service there. Until, in fact, the British forces took 
possession of New- York, in Sep. 1776, he and Dr. 
Laidlie, who had also removed to Red Hook, alter- 
nately came down, unless providentially prevented; 
and preached to the remnant of their flock; and in the 
month of June preceding, he administered the Lord's 
Supper in the Middle Church, which ordinance was 
not dispensed again in any of the Dutch Churches 
in the city, during the continuance of the war. 



kept up, until the ministers composing it, and the great mass of 
the people under their pastoral care retired from the city, previous 
to the arrival of the British forces. M 

Dr. Livingston was, no doubt, one of this clerical association; 
and it is probable, that as often as he was in the city, after his 
marriage, when they convened, he united with them in supplica- 
tions to Heaven for a happy prosecution and termination of the 
conflict. 



EXILE- 



While the Doctor was staying at Kingston, he 
preached once every Sabbath, if in the place, in 
the Dutch language ; but, as the congregation 
there was furnished with a pastor (the Rev. Mr. 
Doll,) when he found that he would be probably 
for some time, excluded from New- York, he be- 
came anxious for another situation, where his mi- 
nistrations might be more needed, or would promise 
more usefulness ; and about the time that his inter- 
course with the city ceased, it pleased the Lord 
to provide him just such an one as he had desired. 

In the autumn of 1776, the Consistory of the Dutch 
Church in Albany, invited him to spend the period 
of his exile, or as much of it as suited his conveni- 
ence, in labours among them. This invitation he 
promptly accepted, and with Mrs. Livingston and 
his infant son,* went there in the month of 
November, 

Whether anterior to this removal, public wor- 
ship in that Church had been regularly, or at all 
performed, in English, is not known ; but it was 
understood that during his residence in the place, 
he would be expected to preach in this language, 



*Coh H. A. Livingston, of Poughkeepsie, the only child of 
Dr. Livingstom 



EXILE. 



253 



whilst the esteemed pastor would take the Dutch 
service, and for nearly three years he laboured 
zealously, in conjunction with the pious and excel- 
lent Westerlo, to build up the Church in faith and 
godliness. 

After he had been here about a year, he made a 
visit with his little family to his father at Pough- 
keepsie, which, for a short season, was attended 
with imminent danger, and led to the loss of his 
journal, containing a number of anecdotes, and 
relating his religious experience from the day of his 
embarkation for Holland. 

It was in the month of October, 1777, when Gen. 
Vaughan, with a small fleet, sailed up the Hudson^ 
and burnt Kingston. The enemy, as they passed 
the residence of his father, which stood upon 
the margin of the river, fired into it, and in the 
perturbation and alarm of the moment, produced 
by this wanton attack, while making some hasty 
preparations to leave the house, he burnt that 
manuscript, which he happened to have with him, 
under the apprehension that, if it were not destroy- 
ed, it might fall into improper hands. The loss was 
a serious one : it was to him an invaluable trea- 
sure ; and had it been preserved, much interesting 
and important matter could, no doubt, have been 



254 



EXILE. 



derived from it to enrich these pages. The whole 
family, upon the above threatening occurrence, fled 
to Sharon, Conn, and remained there some weeks* 

The climate of Albany, in winter, proving too 
severe for the feeble constitution of Mrs. Livingston, 
he removed in the summer of 1779 to Livingston's 
Manor, in the hope that this change of situation 
would be beneficial to her health. — How far his 
ministerial labours were pleasing and useful 
to the people of Kingston when he sojourned 
among them, the writer has not been informed ; 
but of their very great acceptance in Albany, — 
that he was highly esteemed by the congregation 
in that city for his superior endowments, as an 
ambassador of the Cross, for his warm and elevated 
piety, his engaging manners and holy conversation, 
unquestionable proof can be given; for in the ensu- 
ing spring he received a call, in due form, to return 
to them. This call, which is dated the 4th of April, 
1780, was brought down and presented to him the 
next day by the Rev. Dr. Westerlo, and Mr. John 
Beekman, who had been charged by the Consistory 
with its delivery. He took it into serious considera- 
tion, but finally declined it, and continued at the 
Manor, preaching to destitute Churches in the 
vicinity, the unsearchable riches of Christ. 



EXILE* 



255 



The Doctor, it is evident from the tacts already 
stated, did not lead a life of inaction or indolence, 
while compelled to intermit the exercise of his 
sacred function in New- York ; nor did he rove 
about as a political missionary, consuming his time 
in an unprofitable discussion of questions relative to 
the public affairs, interesting as the subject then 
was to persons of every description. Though a 
decided Whig ; though he rejoiced at every occur- 
rence auspicious to the cause of freedom, and both 
in public and in private, remembered his beloved 
country at the Throne of Grace, praying that the 
right hand and arm of the Almighty, and the light 
of his countenance would save her, yet he loved 
the cause of Christ more ; and he, therefore, assi- 
duously employed himself in the glorious service to 
which he had been called. His prudence, his just 
sense of the dignity of his office, as a minister of 
religion, and of the solemn nature of the duties 
appertaining thereto, were such as could hardly 
fail to preserve him from any unseemly descension 
in ordinary discourse upon political matters ; but 
conversation of the kind w as not sufficiently suited 
to his taste, to put him in much danger in that res- 
pect : Redeeming grace was habitually the theme 
of his meditations ; and he never was so happy as 
when hearing or telling of the victorious operations 
of Him whose kingdom is not of this world, and 



256 



EXILE. 



commending a precious salvation to all around him, 
as well in the social circle as in the house of God. 

The Church in which the Doctor now regularly 
preached, was in the village of Lithgow, where he 
lived, and near the Manor-house, but his attentions 
were not confined to the congregation that assem- 
bled in that place. Other congregations within a 
convenient distance, — and there were several, com- 
posed chiefly of German families, in want of the 
r istrations of the Gospel,— enjoyed a portion of 
his labours as often as circumstances would permit. 
During his stay with this people, which lasted about 
eighteen months, he preached two sermons every 
Sabbath, one in English and the other in Dutch, 
—and he had reason to hope that his strength had 
not been spent for nought. 

The following two years were passed at 
Poughkeepsie. The Church in this town, which 
now was without a settled minister, desired his 
services ; and he being rather inconveniently 
situated in some respects, at the Manor, con- 
sented to take the pastoral oversight of it ; — 
and, accordingly, removed for the purpose in 
1781, to his father's mansion, where he remained 
until the close of the war. — Of the profitableness 
of the Doctor's ministry, during this period, no 



EXILE. 257 

materials are in hand to authorize a representation: 
there can be little doubt, however; — nay, the simple 
fact that some solicitude was expressed to have his 
labours, warrants the assertion, that in point of po- 
pularity, he stood high with the people, furnishing a 
case — a case, indeed, which rarely occurs in which 
the proverb was not verified that, a prophet is not 
without honour, save in his own country and in his 
own house. * 

The present cheering prospects of America 
led him to reflect with much attention upon the 
changes that would be necessary in ecclesiastical 
policy, under a new form of political government^ 
to place the Church in the most advantageous cir- 
cumstances, or to give the denomination that relative 
standing and influence among other denominations, 
to which it was the ardent wish of his heart it 
might speedily attain. The following extract of a 
letter to the Rev. Dr. Westerlo, dated 22d October^ 
1783, will show the interest and mature delibera- 
tion with which he revolved the important subject, 
and also the origin of a plan which was ultimately 
adopted, but not till towards the close of his life. 

" The revolution in our political interests has 



*Matt. 13. 57. 

33 



lob 



EXILE, 



made a change in the general face of our American 
world, and as it has removed some difficulties 
which were taken into consideration in our former 
plan, so it has introduced others which deserve a 
very weighty and impartial discussion. The com- 
mon enemy to our religious liberties is now re- 
moved ; and we have nothing to fear from the pride 
and domination of the Episcopal Hierarchy." 

" A sufficient seminary for all the purposes of com- 
mon literature, is now already established in the Jer- 
seys, and will probably be enlarged into an Univeri 
sity, and be most favoured by the legislature in that 
state. The erecting, therefore, a College, with all 
the appendages necessary to justify the appellation, 
at Brunswick, appears to be an object at once be- 
yond our funds, and in itself unnecessary. The 
question will then recur, what must, what ought, 
what can we do ? To me, there appears but three 
possible methods, which, if not free from difficul- 
ties, seem to be upon the whole at least practica- 
ble, and in some measure calculated to answer the 
purposes we wish to obtain— either to wait until the 
government of this state shall organize the College 
in the city of New- York, and then appoint a pro- 
fessor for our Churches in that College, to be sup- 
ported by the funds of the College : or, to request, 
(which, if done, will doubtless be obtained,) a local 



EXILE. 



union with Princeton, where a professor of our no- 
mination, and supported by us, may teach in their 
house, and the students have the privilege of their 
library ; — or, lastly, that our Churches support their 
independence, and distinct name and existence, by 
erecting at Brunswick — not a College, but a Divi- 
nity-Hall, for the sole purpose of teaching Theology 

" I will freely communicate to you my sentiments 
upon each of these, not only because you have a 
right, as a friend, to know my opinion, but because 
I wish to prompt you to an explicit declaration of 
your own mind upon the subject, as I am by ne 
means fixed in my views, but would fain gain all 
the advice possible in a matter which is justly con- 
sidered by all as important, and which cannot suc- 
ceed without the joint concurrence and approbation 
of the whole." 

" With respect, then, to the first thing proposed, 
it appears to me the following difficulties are alto- 
gether insurmountable — 1. The time may prove 
too long for the wants of our Church before the 
College in New- York is properly organized. 2. 
The old Charter of that College, and the funds 
which were given upon express condition of the 
operation of that Charter, will create some difficul- 
ties : these have still their friends, who will be 



mo 



EXILE. 



ready to oppose, if not openly, at least by their 
influence, every measure which seems to prefer 
any persuasion or denomination above the Episco- 
pal. 3. The government of this state ****will proba- 
bly wish to give no countenance at all to any deno- 
mination of Christians, lest an infringement of reli- 
gious liberty should be made ; and, therefore, if 
the College should be erected into an University^ 
it is my opinion, the science of theology will be en« 
tirely omitted. For us, therefore, to be waiting 
for that event, will be loss of time, engaging in the 
quarrels of an old standing and high partyship, or 
a final disappointment at last." 

" The second has a greater prospect of success? 
and for some time has been uppermost in my mind, 
in consequence of a train of happy consequences, 
which I imagined I saw connected with that situa- 
tion ; nor was the assured orthodoxy of all the 
Presbyterian Churches, and their indissoluble 
union in doctrines with ours, by that means, the 
least argument to persuade me into a coalition with 
Princeton. But, upon mature thought, it is evident 
to me that this measure will not succeed. For — 1* 
Our professor, when placed there, must be either 
under the control of the Trusteeship of that Col- 
lege, or, (if an exemption from their jurisdiction 
should be stipulated,) it is impossible but he will, in 



EXILE. 



261 



time, be under the influence of their customs, sen- 
tiraents, and opinions, as he must be one among the 
many who surround him, and who, all being 
swayed by one interest, will unavoidably draw him 
also with the stream ; whereby the professor of the 
Dutch Church will and cannot but be a Presby- 
terian professor. You know my sentiments in 
favour of the Presbyterians too well to suppose I 
mean any thing in this the least derogatory to them, 
their doctrines, or their church government. I es- 
teem them highly, and wish many among us were 
not possessed with such groundless prejudices 
against them. But when I consider our Churches 
as hitherto preserving a distinct denomination, my 
first observation will be seen to have great weight, 
as the name and existence of the Dutch Churches 
by such an union would soon expire. 2. The 
same funds must be raised by us for the support of 
this professorate at Princeton, as if it was placed in 
any other situation, while the prospect of its answer- 
ing our purpose would be dubious, and our profes- 
sor evidently placed farther out of our control, in 
proportion as he became united to others. 3. 
Our correspondence with our mother churches in 
Holland, and the possibility of being increased by 
emigrations from thence, should at least incline us 
to remain as pure and unsuspected of any mixture 
as possible — unless some generous and proper 



262 



EXILE. 



plan, formed by a genius equal to the task, should 
be drawn for uniting all the Reformed Churches in 
America into one national Church — which, notwith- 
standing the seeming difficulties in the way, I 
humbly apprehend will be practicable and, consis- 
tent with the outlines drawn by Professor Witsius 
for King William the ThirdJ yet hope to see accom- 
plished. But until something of that kind is pro- 
posed, what has been mentioned above stands 
with its full force." 

66 The last of the three proposed plans, remains to 
be considered. At first blush, it is evident that if 
it can be put in practice, it will distinguish our 
Churches as singularly concerned for maintaining 
the truths of the Gospel, and instead of absorbing 
them into other denominations, will fix their charac- 
ter in a point of view, which will hand down the 
efforts of the present generation with honour to 
posterity. While others have laboured with suc- 
cess and praise for the cultivation of learning in 
general, it seems to be reserved in Providence, as 
the peculiar province of our churches, to employ 
their whole influence in teaching and establishing 
the Reformed religion." 



" Before I mention the difficulties which have 
recurred to my mind, permit me to premise the 



EXILE. 



263 



arguments in its favour. 1. If we erect a respect- 
able professorate and Divinity-Hall at Brunswick, 
we shall have our institution wholly under our own 
control ; every difficulty can be canvassed, and re- 
dress obtained without the interposition of other 
denominations, or any appeal to different boards. 2. 
The name and estimation of the Dutch Churches 
among the various churches in America, are in such 
repute for orthodoxy, that our institution will bid 
fairer to be universally useful when we stand alone, 
than any union with any that can be named, could 
possibly promise. 3. The local situation of Bruns- 
wick seems to be a proper centre for the States of 
New- York, and Jersey, and Pennsylvania, in the last 
of which there are perhaps as many congregations 
of the Reformed Churches as in both the former. 
4» But what ought to be a principal consideration is, 
that all the donations and assistance we are to ex- 
pect for this undertaking, will be given by those 
who belong to the Dutch Churches (as every other 
denomination has plans of their own, which call 
forth their whole abilities,) and it is evident the 
benefactors for our professorate would give with 
greater freedom, and feel more happy in promoting 
a work, which they were assured would remain 
imder the sole inspection of the Dutch Churches, 
than by any combination of ecclesiastic interests 
with Princeton, or political with New- York, could 
possibly be effected." 



EXILE. 



" These, and what I might still add, it these were 
not sufficient, have induced me to prefer the last to 
both the former plans. The difficulties which 
occur, are, indeed, not small ; they are few in num- 
ber, but of great weight. The one is, it will un- 
avoidably take up some time, at least two years, 
before any thing of importance can be done to- 
wards this establishment. The other is, we have 
not funds equal to the task ; and we shall need the 
advice of our wisest friends, to point out a method 
for obtaining a sum sufficient to maintain a profes- 
sor in theology, and in the oriental languages." 

"I have already said that I was not fixed in my 
views respecting this affair; — at least, not so fixed 
but that I stand open for conviction, and wish to 
obtain all the light which can be thrown upon the 
object, before I determine in what manner my 
vote or small influence shall direct. Upon dis- 
coursing with Mr. Romeyn, I found him fully con- 
vinced that what I have last considered was the 
proper line of conduct for us ; and his arguments 
have not a little conduced to establish my mind 
upon this plan. Jt is the interest of the Redeem- 
er's cause we have at heart. Our hands must do 
what we are called to with all our might. An 
effectual and peculiarly exclusive door is now 
opened for service. The enemy of all religion is 



* EXILE. $85 

not at rest. Our united efforts and blessings, as 
answers to prayer from the throne, may fix an esta- 
blishment that shall make glad the city of our God 
for ages yet to come." 

The conjectures he formed, as to the arrange- 
ments that would be made in behalf of the literary 
institutions mentioned, and the views of church 
policy he expressed in this letter, were singularly 
judicious ; and it must be acknowledged, that they 
prove him to have been a man of an enlightened 
and comprehensive mind, and, however devoted to 
the best interests of his own Church, of a catholic 
spirit. 

To a distressing and protracted time of war suc- 
ceeded at length, in the good providence of that 
God who ruleth among the nations, a time of peace. 
By His blessing upon the arms of America, every 
mountain became a plain before her Zerubbabel 3 
and the top stone of her liberties was brought forth 
with the exulting shouts of thousands. Verily^ 
there is no king saved by the multitude of an host : a 
mighty man is not delivered by much strength ; * 
but they that are engaged in a righteous cause and 
look to the Lord for help, through him shall do va~ 



*Ps. xxxiii. 16, 
34 



EXILE* 



liantly ; for He it is that shall tread down their ene- 
mies.* And truly it may be said, that if it had not 
been the Lord who was on our side when men rose 
up against us, then they had swallowed us up quick 
when their wrath was kindled against ws.f 

The long and arduous conflict between Great Bri- 
tain and this country, was brought to a close in the 
year 1783. 

Provisional articles of peace had been signed at 
Paris in the latter part of the preceding year, and as 
soon as intelligence of the fact reached here, all 
hostilities ceased. A number of the exiles ventured 
forthwith to re-occupy their former dwellings ; but 
they did not generally return, until after an event, 
the anniversary of which has been celebrated ever 
since — the evacuation of the city by the British 
troops, on the twenty-fifth of November, 1783. 

About this time, Doctor Livingston came back 
to resume his pastoral charge, and commenced a 
laborious course of ministeral duty. 



* #.<?. lx., 12. tP«?. cxxiv. 2. 3. 



CHAPTER. VH 



FROM THE RESUMPTION OF HIS PASTORAL CHARGE, 
AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR; 
TILL THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION 
OF THE CHURCH, IN !79f< 

The first interview between Doctor Livingston 
and his flock, upon their return to New- York, after 
so long a separation, must have been attended with 
mingled emotions of joy and sorrow. 

On the one hand, the successful termination ot 
the war, with the glorious results in prospect — -the 
re-possession of their former habitations, — a sight 
again of those venerable temples in which they had 
so often raised the voice of supplication and praise, 
and a sight of each other, as preserved through all 
the vicissitudes and perils of seven eventful years, 
were circumstances which could not but awaken in 
every breast the most pleasurable feelings. s -tfiut, 
on the other hand, the many sad events which had 
taken place in a number of families, and some of 
which, perhaps, had not been extensively known 
or heard of before, — traces of the outrages com^ 
mitted by the enemy, visible in many parts of 



268 



NEW-YORK. 



the city, — the ruinous state of several places of 
worship, which had been most wantonly abused,, 
and among which were the Middle and North 
Churches — the one having been first a prison and 
then a riding school, the other a prison, and neither 
exhibiting under the sacrilegious treatment it had 
received, much of the appearance of a house of 
God, as the interior had been entirely destroyed ; — 
these circumstances, together with that of the loss 
both had sustained in the death of the late loved 
and excellent Laidlie, and were now forcibly re- 
minded of,* must have made the occasion one, not 
less of mutual condolence than of mutual congra- 
tulation. 

The old Church in Garden-street, being found 
uninjured, was, in the month of November, imme- 
diately after the Doctor's return, re-opened for 



* This much esteemed and devoted servant of Christ, died at 
Red Hook, in the year 1780, of a pulmonary disease. 

The two Dutch ministers, though still living, did not come 
back to the city to reside. Mr. Ritzema, remained at Kinder- 
hook, and Mr. De Ronde settled at Schaticoke, a place North- 
east of Albany. They were both too far advanced in life to re- 
sume the responsibilities of the pastoral connexion in such a city, 
and the Consistory of the Church, with their accustomed liberality, 
granted to each an annuity of £200 during life- 



i6H 



public worship ; and the people, grateful as may be 
supposed, that they had one building left in which 
they could assemble, once more came together^ 
and united with their pastor in a tribute of thanks- 
giving* to the Most High, for his innumerable 
mercies. 

The congregation, at this time, or rather the resi- 
due of it, needed extraordinary attention ; and the 
labour of visiting, catechising, and preaching, and 



* Thanksgiving is specified, not to imply that the day of their 
re-meeting in the sanctuary had been specially set apart for the 
performance of that duty, but simply, as what, under the circum- 
stances of the occasion, it was very natural and proper it should 
be, a prominent part of their service. It was a Lord's day upon 
which the Church was re-occupied for the first time. The 11th 
of the following month was observed, by the recommendation of 
Congress, throughout the United States, as a day of Thanks- 
giving : and here it may not be amiss to remark, that our fathers 
were not backward to recognize the hand of God, in the dispen- 
sations of his providence, and to go up to his courts to render 
the homage due to his name. They did not grudge to lay aside 
their secular employments for a day, and spend that day in com- 
memorating, by a public act of devotion, his great goodness. And 
it is to be feared, that the perpetuity of our invaluable political 
and religious privileges, is much endangered by the gross neglect? 
m this respect, of modern times. It is truly alarming, to see the 
manner in which, of late, as a people, we acknowledge the mercies 
of Heaven, upon days recommended by our civil rulers to 
religiously kept, 



'J7U 



NKW-YOKK 



of various other important duties, necessary to a 
proper adjustment of its concerns, and indispensa- 
ble to its future welfare, in consequence of the long 
suspension of pastoral cares, and the commence* 
ment of a new form of political government, was 
more than usually devolves upon the minister of the 
Gospel; more, indeed, than asingle one in suchasta- 
tion could well perform, without incessant assiduity. 
And the Doctor stood alone as the pastor. Of the 
four ministers in connexion with the Church when 
the war begun, he was the only one whom Provi- 
dence permitted to take the oversight of it when 
the war ceased : but he nevertheless cheerfully 
undertook the difficult service to which his Master 
had called him, and that service he discharged with 
unwearied diligence and zeal. 

While he was thus devoted to his congregation 
he also co-operated with the friends of science and 
religion, to forward the accomplishment of an 
object which was then in contemplation — the erec- 
tion of a State University. 

In a letter to the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, dated March 
18, 1784, there is the following paragraph : — " That 
evening when I parted with you, the Governors of 
the College met, and a bill for erecting a Universi- 
ty in the state of New- York was read to us. Many 



NEW-YORK, 



271 



observations upon the bill, in the form it then bore, 
were made, and some alterations were strongly 
urged. The alterations insisted upon were not 
essential, with respect to the basis of the Univer- 
sity, but only the form in which the matter was ma- 
naged. There is no opposition from any quarter 
which occasions the least doubt but the business 
will be conducted with that spirit of Catholicism and 
harmony, which will ensure a literary foundation of 
importance to the Church and State. As soon as 
the bill has obtained its proper alterations, and gone 
through its different stages, I will endeavour to 
obtain a copy for you, and send it over to you." 

He felt, too, no little solicitude for the general 
welfare of the Church to which he belonged, as 
is apparent from another part of the same letter. 
Having mildly animadverted upon the strong man- 
ner in which a respected clerical brother had ex- 
pressed himself in favour of Queen's College, he 
adds — " For my part, I wish only for information 
and if I know my own heart, I am perfectly impar- 
tial and without the least prejudice in favour of one 
place or seat of learning above another. My only 
inquiry is, which place can be rendered most secure 
for maintaining our blessed truths unadulterated,and 
which—provided there are several methods which 
in that respect are equally secure — is most easy. 



372 



NEW-YORK, 



practicable, and advantageous ? I am too much a 
friend to the College at Brunswick to take up any 
argument against it, but if another door should 
be opened, which will answer every purpose sooner 
and better, I would desire to be such a friend to 
truth and providence as not to refuse an accept- 
iance."* 

Further on, he says, " The repeated mention 
you have made about the necessity of forming a 
Classical meeting of the Southern district, notwith- 



*To explain this extract, it may be proper to observe, that the 
hope of ever seeing Queen's College in a flourishing state, seems 
to have been now a forlorn one. The funds of the institution had 
become much reduced, and the number of students was only fif- 
teen. The Trustees had shortly before given a call to the presiden- 
cy, to the Rev. Dr. T. Romeyn, but the acceptance of it was very 
doubtful ; and under these discouraging prospects of the Seminary, 
the expectation appears to have been cherished, that King's^now 
Columbia) C ollege, in the city of New-York, would be so divest* 
ed of its Episcopal character, and so new modelled, as to afford 
speedily all the advantages desired for the education of the youth 
of the Dutch Church. 

The Rev. Dr. Hardenbergh, one of the warmest friends of 
Queen's College, acknowledges in a letter written about this time 
to Dr. L., that " being totally unacquainted with the intentions of 
civil government, as to the important matters of education," he 
was utterly at a loss what to say upon the subject of educating: 
vonth for the supply of the Church. 



NEW-YORK. 



IIS 



standing the smallness of the body, has induced me 
to try if I can bring such a measure about. I have 
not yet seen Mr. Schoonmaker of Gravesend, 
and whether Father Van Sinderen can attend, I do 
not know ; but I shall endeavour to form the poor 
suffering congregations again into a body , and get our 
ecclesiastical judicatories once more established" 

This letter shows that, in the midst of numerous 
and weighty parochial duties, he was employed 
about matters of great importance, either to the 
community, or to the interests of the Dutch Church 
at large. 

It was stated in the last chapter, that the Conven- 
tion which had assembled in May, 1775, to act upon 
the letter from the Classis of Amsterdam, relative 
to a professor^ owing to the alarm then prevalent, 
dissolved itself without attending to the business. 

In October, 1784, another Convention assem- 
bled, and this was the first, it is believed, that met 
after the conclusion of peace. This body pro- 
ceeded at once to the election of a Professor of 
Theology, and unanimously bestowed the honour- 
able office upon the person, whom the Theological 
Faculty of Utrecht and the Classis had concurred 
in recommending, as fully qualified to perform it 



2X4 



NEW-YORK 



with honour to himself, and advantage to the 
Church. 

An appointment made under circumstances so 
clearly expressive of the Divine will in the case, 
Doctor Livingston could not decline : he accord- 
ingly declared his acceptance of the same, and a 
time was fixed for his inauguration.* 



*To show the progress of ecclesiastical organization in the 
Dutch Church, it ought to be noticed here. that, this Convention 
resolved to distinguish their several assemblies by the names usu- 
ally given to such judicatories. For particular reasons, at the 
adoption of the Articles of Union, they were simply denominated 
" the Particular and General Assembly :" henceforth, ©very Parti- 
cular Assembly was to be called a Classis, and the General Assem- 
bly, a Particular Synod. There were, at the commencement of 
the war, and probably also at its close, between 70 and 80 con- 
gregations in the state of New- York, and about 40 in New- 
Jersey : of the former, three Classes were constituted ; of the 
latter, two, which were to meet ordinarily twice every year. The 
Particular Synod was to be a delegated body, consisting of two 
ministers, and two elders, from each Classis ; and to meet once 
a year : and it would seem that it was now f urther resolved to have 
a third judicatory, composed of all the ministers of the Church, 
with each an elder, and one elder from every vacant congrega- 
tion ; which should be called the General Synod, and meet once 
every third year. The statement is made upon the authority of a 
paper of Dr. L.'s, which has been referred to before, containing 
a few detached observations relative to the Dutch Church. The 
observations appear to have been penned about the year 1792. 



tfEW-YORK. 



275 



On the 19th of May, 1785, in compliance with the 
request of the General Synod, the name which the 
Convention had now assumed, he delivered his 
inaugural oration in Latin, before them, in the Old 
Dutch Church in Garden Street. This discourse, 
the subject of which was, " The truth of the Chris- 
tian Religion" was afterwards published. Some 
apposite remarks, in his prologue, upon the happy 
termination of the revolutionary contest, and the 
importance of religion to the nation being made, 
he passed on to a general view of all religion, true 
and false, and showed the foundation of that which 
is true. He treated next of natural and revealed 
religion ; and, having briefly noticed the insuffi- 
ciency of natural religion for the salvation of sin- 
ners, as also the necessity of a revelation, he exhi- 
bited a few of the principal arguments which prove 
that the Books of the Old and New Testament 
contain a divine revelation, and then urged, to the 
close of the discourse, a number of other argu- 
ments to confirm his proposition, which it is scarce 
necessary to add, he satisfactorily established, 

The Doctor had a good talent for letter-writing, 
and his extensive acquaintance with ministers and 
other persons, distinguished for learning and piety, 
both at home and abroad, furnished him almost 
daily* with occasions for its employment, HiV 



276 



NEW-YORK. 



epistolary correspondence was, at no time subse- 
quently to his settlement in New-York, a small 
affair ; but now, particularly, he had many Euro- 
pean friends, with whom, in this way, and that, as 
often, perhaps, as an opportunity was presented, 
he reciprocated affectionate attentions. The chief 
of these friends were in Holland, of course, as he 
had himself long resided in that country, and form- 
ed, while there, an intimacy with several eminent 
characters. He had, however, one foreign corres- 
pondent, in another part of Europe, whose name 
is worthy of honourable distinction in these Me- 
moirs — the celebrated Dr. John Erskine, of Edin- 
burgh. This gentleman, in two instances at least, 
accompanied his letters with a present of several 
valuable books, as a token of personal esteem, and 
of pious solicitude in behalf of the Dutch Church.* 



* The letters of this venerable and truly excellent divine, to 
Dr. L. though short, evince a liberality of Christian feeling, and 
a desire to promote the spread and preservation of the truth in 
the Dutch Church, which justly entitle them to a particular notice. 
They were written at an advanced age, and, seemingly, with a 
trembling hand. One, dated March 26th, 1784, commences 
thus : — 

< 'Dear Sir, 

" Permit me to send you, as a mark of respect for yourself, 
and the worthy family from which you are descended, and of my 
best wishes for the Belgic Churches, on both sides the Atlantic, a 



NEW-YORK. 



277 



About this time, the North Church being repair- 
ed, and it being desirable that there should be 
regularly full service in both Churches, the Consis- 
tory determined to give the Doctor a colleague, as 
soon as they could obtain a minister of suitable 



few Dutch books." Some of these books, the Doctor is requested 
to keep, and the rest, to present to any ministers or private Chris- 
tians that might need them. 

In another, dated December, 14th, 1784, he says — ce Regard 
to one, descended from Mr. Livingston, a successful and emi- 
nent minister in Scotland ;-— one, too, of whom I had so pleasant 
accounts from my dear friend Mr. Rondal, one of the worthiest 
ministers of this city, disposed me to send you * * * * : not 
so much, that I thought they could be of great use to yourself, as 
probably you might be provided with the best of them, as that I 
supposed there might be Dutch ministers or private Christian?, in 
country parishes, not so well provided with books, to whom you 
could present them. I now send you 8 more folios, 3 octavos, and 
one duodecimo, with the same view.* * * Scriptural criticism is, I 
am afraid, too little studied in the American states. * * * I mean 
not, by this, to approve the method in Holland, of introducing so 
much criticism into sermons. But, surely, it argues more reve- 
rence for Scripture, than transforming sermons into philosophical 
essays, or eloquent declamations, no way connected with a text. 
I should be glad to learn from you, the state of religion and theo- 
logic literature in the middle states, especially in the Dutch and 
German Churches. I am much concerned for the storm which 
seems to be threatening Holland. 

* £ I am, dear Sir. your affectionate Brother and Servant, 

"JOHN ERSKINE 



278 



gifts and popularity. In pursuance of this deter- 
mination, a call was presented in July, 1785, to the 
Rev. Simeon Van Aarsdaalen, of Reddingstown, in 
the State of New- Jersey, to be one of the minis- 
ters of the Church. 

The prefatory part of this instrument is some- 
what of an historical nature, and expresses officially ? 
the sentiments then entertained of the Doctor's 
ministrations. It is in these words : 

" Since it hath pleased God to restore his disper- 
sed people in peace, from their grievous exile, and 
establish them again in their former habitations, the 
Minister, Elders, and Deacons of the Reformed 
Protestant Dutch Church, of the City of New- York, 
desire with thankful hearts to acknowledge his un- 
merited goodness, and express their fervent grati- 
tu !e, by their zeal in promoting his worship, and 
restoring the ordinances of his house to their former 
importance and usefulness." 

" With great expense and labour, one of the 
ruined Churches (commonly called the North 
Church) has been repaired, and the public service 
of the sanctuary for some time performed alterna- 
tely in the North and in the Old Church." 

" The death of the celebrated Doctor Laidlie. 



NEW- YORK. 



279 



whose labours were eminently blessed, and whose 
name will long be remembered with every senti- 
ment of veneration and esteem, has deprived the 
Dutch Churches in America of an able defender of 
the truth, and this congregation of an indefatigable 
and exemplary teacher. By his death, the whole 
pastoral care, and all the duties of the ministry, are 
devolved upon Doctor Livingston, who, notwith- 
standing his great exertions and most acceptable 
labours, cannot possibly alone supply the wants of 
a congregation, whose members are too numerous 
to convene in one place of worship, and whose 
youth require catechetical instruction, beyond the 
strength and attention of one minister. It has, 
therefore, been the fervent wish and endeavour of 
the Consistory, as well as the constant request of 
the congregation, since their return to this City, to 
find a capable and acceptable teacher, to assist 
Doctor Livingston in the work of the ministry, and 
with him to perform divine service in the English 
language. And since they have become acquain- 
ted with your person and character, your talents 
and ministerial gifts, their choice has uniformly 
been placed upon you. Wherefore the Consistory, 
legally assembled in their consistorial capacity, up- 
on the twenty-fourth day of May last, and assisted 
with the advice of the former Elders, did unani- 
mously resolve to call you, for this important office. 



■£8V 



NEW-YORK* 



And as the preservation and prosperity of the 
Dutch Church of the City of New- York, from many 
considerations, cannot fail of being an object of 
great concern to all who wish well to the Dutch 
Reformed interest in our land, so, notwithstanding 
the attachment which you, with every faithful mi- 
nister in similar connexions may feel to the flock 
already committed to your charge, yet the prospect 
of more extensive usefulness, will, we trust, be a 
sufficient argument to incline your heart to accept 
of our invitation, and induce you to consider the 
unanimous call of so many of his people, as an in- 
dication of the will of the Lord respecting your 
fiiture labours." Then follows the call which, it 
would appear from the fact of its being found among 
the Doctor's papers, was declined and returned. 

In the month of October of this year, the first 
attempt was made to establish a correspondence 
between the Dutch Reformed, the Presbyterian, 
and the Associate Reformed Churches. The Synod 
of the Dutch Church had the honour of proposing 
the matter, and appointed a committee to confer 
upon it with the committees that might be appoint- 
ed by the respective judicatories of the other 
Churches. — Doctor Livingston was one of the 
Dutch Committee, and read at the conference, when 
it took place, a written declaration of his own and 
his brethren's views — or rather, of the instructions 



NEW-YORK. 



281 



they had received in relation to the important busi- 
ness. This declaration, in the preparing of which 
he had, without doubt, the most influence, though 
it expressed a strong and inviolable attachment to 
his own Church, bore no semblance of bigotry, and 
breathed throughout a spirit of Christian love and 
of fervent zeal for 44 the preservation of sound doc- 
trine," the 44 promotion of piety, and" the "prevention 
of future discord." * The final result of this confer- 



* The object of the conference was represented to be, not " to 
effect any nominal or real union between the respective Churches ;" 
but, simply, " to open a correspondence that might tend to 
the general advantage of the Church of Christ, the preservation 
of sound doctrine, promotion of piety, and prevention of future 
discord." 

Having observed that " the standards of" their M confession, as 
well as" their " attachment to them, must, by" them, " be for- 
ever preserved inviolate and unalterable," and given an account of 
the Formularies, to which every candidate must subscribe before 
he can be admitted as a minister in the Church, the Committee, 
in their Declaration, which was read by the Doctor, as above sta- 
ted, proposed a few questions to the other Committees. The first 
related to their standards, and to the manner in which they bound 
themselves to abide by their confessions, so as " to exclude all 
reservations and exceptions whatever." The second was in these 
words—" Whether the corresponding Synods will, in order to lay 
the foundation of a full and unreserved confidence between our 
respective Churches, give some solemn and authoritative pledge 
or promise, the one to the other, that both, for the present, and as 

S6 



282 



^EVV-YORK. 



ence was the adoption, by the aforenamed judica- 
tories, of a plan of mutual and friendly intercourse. 

A plan was projected the ensuing winter, by 
some friends of literature in the JNorthern part of 
the State, for founding a College in Schenectady, 
for the prosperity of winch the Doctor evinced a 
benevolent concern, and probably made some exer- 
tions, at the meetings of the regents of the univer- 
sity, being a member of that board. 



far as watchfulness, care, and fidelity, on the part of man can pre- 
vail, forever hereafter, a firm, explicit, and unconditional attach- 
ment to the known formula of our respective Churches, respecting 
doctrine and worship, shall be insisted on, and, at all hazards, 
without the fear of man, be practised in each and every one of 
our Churches." The third and fourth respected the cognizance 
of deviations from purity of doctrines, and the maintenance of 
discipline. Two articles were then added, in reference to the 
accommodation of disputes, and the mode of keeping up some 
visible correspondence. 

The writer is unable to say what were the answers returned to 
these questions, or what, precisely, was the plan of correspond- 
ence, which was then agreed upon : but the abstract he has pre- 
sented of the Declaration of the Dutch Committee, shows how 
tenacious our fathers were of the genuine doctrines of the Gospel, 
and how anxiously they sought to bar the introduction of error 
into the Church ; as if premonished of the way which the adver- 
sary would use at a future time, but too successfully, to dissemi- 
nate error. 



NEW-YORK. 



283 



In a letter to his worthy friend and brother, the 
Rev. Dr. T. Romeyn, Pastor of the Reformed 
Dutch Church in that town — one, it is believed, of the 
original framers of the plan, and its indefatigable 
patron — he says, " If I can be serviceable to you 
in any thing relating thereto, I shall be glad to re- 
ceive your directions and, in another dated the 
25th of February, " I shall be happy to hear from 
you, and wish to know what prospects remain of 
our sanguine expectations respecting your in- 
tended College. I have understood some little 
misunderstanding has taken place in consequence 
of different claims to the same lands, which were 
intended to be appropriated for a fund. I hope it 
may be amicably settled, and that your influence 
may prevail to engage both sides to unite in the 
same object. It would, doubtless, prove a great 
advantage to the town to have a College placed 
there, and its importance to literature and religion, 
in that quarter of our State, ne^d not to be men- 
tioned." * 



* The College was incorporated in 1794, by the name of Union 
College, a name given it in consequence of the union of different 
denominations of Christians in its establishment. "The pros- 
perous state of an Academy there," said the Regents, " the early 
and repeated application of a number of citizens for the erection 
of a College, and the liberal contributions made for that purpose., 
together with the conveniency to the Northern and Western parts 



284 



NEW-YORK. 



The Legislature of the State, in April, 1784, 
passed an Act, entitled, " An Act to enable all the 
religious denominations in this State to appoint 
Trustees, who shall be a body corporate, for the 
purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their 
respective congregations, and for other purposes 
therein mentioned." As this Act interfered with 
the established practice of the Dutch Church, and 
was, in a manner, an unnecessary interference, that 
practice being, if not in form, yet, virtually, a com- 
pliance with the Act, the Doctor endeavoured, with 
some zeal, to procure the addition of a clause or 
another Act, suited to the case ; and, in this business, 
it must be confessed, he rendered an important 
service to the Church. 

It is well known that the Consistory, for the time 
being, of every Church, is intrusted with the care, 
not only of the spiritual affairs of the society, but 
also of its temporalities : and it is equally well 



of the state, induced the Regents to incorporate this College ; and 
they believe it will greatly promote the diffusion of literature, es- 
pecially as it will accommodate a large share of the community, 
who have either not ability to bear the expense, or inclination to 
send their children to a populous city." 

It is now one of the most celebrated and flourishing institutions 
of the kind in the country, 



NEW-YORK. 



285 



known, that the members of a Consistory are not 
viewed as placed permanently in active service — 
that, every year, according to the Constitution of 
the Church,* one half of the number serving in any 
congregation must retire to make room for others^ 
if that be practicable, or, if it be not, must be then 
re-elected ; and such has ever been the practice of 
the Church: but the act referred to, directed the 
appointment of Trustees, in every congregation, a 
third part of the number to be chosen annually, to 
have the exclusive superintendence of its temporal 
concerns. The Doctor's object appears to have 
been to get a bill passed, that would make 
every Consistory, for the time being, a legal board 
of Trustees; and, if frequency of change in the 
members of such a board was a point of any mo- 
ment, that was certainly as well provided for in the 
rules and practice of the Church, as in the law of 
the Legislature. 

Under date of March, 1786, he thus writes to 
Dr. Romeyn, upon the subject : — " The business 
of our incorporations, I found was not properly 
understood by some, and very warmly opposed by 
others. The ideas adopted by the authors of the 
incorporation act, were to keep the temporalities of 



Articles 27th and 28th of Explanatory Articles. 



286 



HEW- YORK. 



all Churches perfectly distinct from spirituals. For 
this reason, without adverting to the customs or 
discipline of any religious denomination, the body 
corporate in one and all of them was to be formed 
in a new mode, and this mode be adopted by every 
congi egation. In this plan, there are many of our 
great folks so established, that I despaired of any 
opening for redress in our case. I applied, how- 
ever, constantly to some leading members in both 
houses, and at last obtained their consent to a bill, 
Avhich I now enclose to Dr. Westerlo, who is re- 
quested to send it forward to you. But, even as 
to this bill, it is suggested to me, that it will be in- 
sisted upon, and probably a clause for that purpose 
added to the bill, that our Elders and Deacons 
shall be chosen at large by the people, and not by 
the Consistories, as at present, being, as they say, 
more republican. Should this last be urged, I 
would rather drop the whole application, as that re- 
medy would be worse than the present disease, and 
w T ould infallibly bring confusion into our Churches. 
The truth is, I do not feel anxious to bring the 
business forward this session. However, I have 
drawn a memorial, and sent it with this conveyance 
to brother Westerlo, for him and you to sign ; and 
if you both judge it is best still to push the matter, I 
will do as you shall direct." 



NEW-YORK. 



5887 



These efforts of the Doctor to obtain some re- 
dress, proved at length successful, and a law was 
passed, enacting, among other things, " that the 
Minister or Ministers, and Elders and Deacons, 
and if, during any time, there be no Minister, then 
the Elders and Deacons, during such time, of every 
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, or congrega- 
tion, now or hereafter to be established in this 
State, and elected according to the rules and usages 
of such Churches within this State, shall be the 
Trustees for every such Church or congregation" * 

In consequence of uninterrupted attention to his 
various and arduous duties, the health of the Doc- 
tor, in the course of the past winter, became con- 
siderably impaired ; and, hoping that he might 
derive benefit from a change of air and more exer- 
cise, he removed, the present spring or early in the 
next summer, to the pleasant village of Flatbush, on 
Long Island. 

For near three years, he had now been sole pas- 
tor of a large and respectable congregation which, 
before the war, was served by four ministers ; and 



* The above clause of the law is extracted from the 2d section, 
chapter 79th, of the Revised and Session Laws of the State, 
published in 1802. 2d edition. 



288 



NEW-YORK. 



during the greater part of this time, or ever since 
his appointment as professor, he had lectured five 
days every week to a class of theological students. 

Few constitutions are so robust, that they would 
not feel the effect of continued and faithful employ- 
ment, for such a space, in any profession ; and the 
Doctor would probably have sooner sought this 
partial and temporary retirement from his charge 
to recruit his strength, had he not viewed it as his 
duty to spend and he spent, while a most signal bles- 
sing from above attended his labours. In the lapse 
of the period which has been mentioned, he recei- 
ved, upon a confession of their faith, more than four 
hundred persons into the communion of the 
Church : the period was, in fact, one joyful revival 
season, and his own soul participated the celestial 
influence which descended so copiously, and accom- 
panied his ministrations. The large accessions 
made to the Church, from time to time, comforted 
and encouraged him— and his work, with these 
convincing tokens of the presence of the Divine 
Spirit in the midst of the people, before his eyes, if 
debilitating to his body, was nevertheless a delight- 
ful one. There are some yet living, perhaps, who 
then belonged to the congregation, and can remem- 
ber the precious harvest, and with what cheerful- 
ess, assiduity, and zeal, he toiled to gather it. 



,VEW-YORK. 



289 



But a little relaxation was now rendered neces- 
sary ; and to enjoy it, he removed a short distance 
out of the city : assistance also was indispensably 
requisite ; and this the Consistory of the Church 
again exerted themselves to provide. A call was 
sent about the first of August to his excellent friend, 
the Rev. Dr. Romeyn, of Schenectady, to preach 
in the Dutch language, concerning which he thus 
Avrites to that gentleman : 

M Rev. and Dear Brother, 
46 It is with very great pleasure, and not with- 
out my most fervent prayers for success, that I 
transmit to you the enclosed call from our Church 
at New- York. * * * * You have long known 
the high esteem, the affection, and attachment which 
our congregation has borne towards you. I intima- 
ted this frequently to you in our confidential con- 
versation, and your disinclination to live in the city, 
and refusals to lend an approving ear to my wishes, 
have prevented us from calling you before. * * 
We conceived your principal objection was to per- 
forming service in two languages. The Consistory, 
therefore, have called you only to preach in Dutch. 
Your service will, therefore, be easy. The number 
of Dutch families is not great ; but, lest you might 
fear that your usefulness should thereby be limited, 

the whole large congregation is before vou for pa° 

37 



290 



NEW-YORK. 



rochial duties in English ; and your established cha- 
racter, and old friendships, open a door for extensive 
service and usefulness among us, above any other 
whatever, * * * * You know the unfeigned 
affection I have long had for you, and, therefore, you 
may with propriety consider me as an interested 
advocate in the present business : and, indeed, I 
acknowledge it : I feel myself greatly interested. 
I have long desired to have you for a colleague ; 
and, notwithstanding the discouragements you have 
given me, I now have hope that the time is come 
when I shall call you by that confidential name. I 
wish to have you for many reasons — but I cheer- 
fully leave you with the Lord. Bring the matter 
to him and, after weighing the whole, I hope you 
will see it to be your duty to give us a favourable 
answer." — In a postscript to the affectionate letter 
from which these extracts are made, he says — 
" My health, as I wrote you some time since, has 
been much on the decline. I found it necessary to 
move out of the city, and have come over to Long 
Island, at Flatbush. This change of air, and neces- 
sary exercise, have been much blessed to me. I 
am better than i was ; but am still distressed with 
pains in my breast. I cannot preach so often as I 
have hitherto done in the large churches in the city. 
The gentlemen who study theology have followed 
me to Flatbush. It is here cheaper for them than 



.NEW-YORK.. 



291 



in the city ; they have more leisure, and better 
opportunities for study, and I have more time also 
to instruct them * *. I feel bound, in conscience, to 
attend to the duties of the professorate, especially 
when I see my health also requires it * *. I wish to 
see you, and converse with you. I shall be happy, 
very happy to have you near me as a colleague 
given of the Lord. If your mind is clear upon the 
subject of our call, I think you need not postpone 
the acceptance : the sooner you come, the greater 
will be the proof of your affection.' 5 

In another, dated Flatbush, 29th of August, 1786, 
he observes — " The answer you sent to the Con- 
sistory, after receiving the call, was yesterday read 
in full Consistory. It gave us great satisfaction to 
find that you referred the whole business to the 
sovereign will of God, and with a determination to 
seek counsel at the Throne of Grace, had resolved 
to follow what appeared to be duty. We cheerfully 
join with you in our prayers, and, as it is his glory 
and the prosperity of his Church, which is our great 
object, we desire to look up to him alone, and trust 
he will, incline your heart, with full conviction of 
his will, to accept of our call. It is a great grief to 
us, that our wants should interfere with others, and 
our gain involve the loss of others ; but we are 
confident that, notwithstanding the strong ties and 



NEW-YORK, 



fervent entreaties of those with whom you now are, 
yet if you was thoroughly acquainted with our situ- 
ation, and saw the happy train of consequences* 
which are connected with your becoming our minis- 
ter, and which have respect to the well-being of 
our Churches at large, you would not hesitate one 
moment to consider our invitation as the call of 
God." 

" It is not only the prosperity of our large congre- 
gation, that depends greatly upon your becoming 
our minister, but even the more extensive views of 
supplying the many vacancies in our Churches. I 
cannot do justice to the expectation and wants of 
the Churches, unless I can be supported and suc- 
ceeded by one, to whom the burthen of ecclesiasti- 
cal and parochial cares can be transferred. In you 
I place, as you know, the fullest confidence* and 
with me, the whole congregation." 

" To the Lord, my waiting eyes are raised, and 
I trust he will, at length, grant what has long been 
the desire of my heart." 

About the same time, the Consistory called also 
the Rev. Dr. William Linn, of the Presbyterian 
Church, to preach in the English language, who 
accepted their call, and was soon after installed 



NEW-YORK # 



298 



collegiate pastor, with Doctor Livingston, of the 
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New-York, 

His sentiments respecting this eloquent and ac- 
complished divine, he very frankly expressed to his 
friend Dr. R. " We yesterday," he informs him in 
one letter, "sent a call to Mr, Linn. Whether 
we shall succeed is uncertain. He is an excellent 
preacher — appears to be a good and great man." 
In another, dated January 29, 1787, after urging 
still further the acceptance of the call, he says — 
" Rest assured, my brother, of my fullest confi- 
dence, and sincerest love and friendship ; and I am 
peculiarly happy to add, that you will find in our 
new colleague, Mr. Linn, that rectitude and ap- 
proved abilities, mixed with the most affectionate 
inclination to make all who are connected with him 
happy, which cannot fail of rendering him an ac„ 
quisition in general, and peculiarly acceptable to us." 

The writer has been induced to present so much 
of the correspondence in reference to these calls, 
by a desire to remove a suspicion which he is aware 
has been and still is harboured, though perhaps to 
no very great extent— that the Doctor was envious 
of the popularity of his new colleague, and un- 
friendly to the coming of Dr. R. More could not 
have been said* in a few words, in favour of the 



294 



NEW-YORK 



first gentleman, and it certainly appears to have 
been said with great cordiality: with respect to 
the second, it is difficult to conceive of stronger 
language than that employed, as expressive of not 
simply a wish, but an earnest desire that the call 
might be accepted. The call was declined : and 
in a letter dated August 29, 1787, he wrote again 
upon the subject as follows: "I believe I have 
omitted to do what I am sure it was my inclination 
and intention to have done, that is, to have wrote 
you a letter in answer to your last, which conveyed 
your final resolution respecting the overtures made 
to you by our congregation. Acquiescence in the 
will of Heaven made it my duty to be fully resigned 
in the dispensation of Providence ; but I found 
myself greatly disappointed, as it has been for a 
long while my fixed wish and desire to have you 
with me as a fellow-labourer. I trust the Lord has 
over-ruled, and will accept of our sincere endea- 
vours, according to the measure of our present 
light, to promote the interests of Zion."* 



* The Consistory soon after called the Rev. (now Dr.) Gerar- 
dus, A. Kuypers, to preach in the Butch language. The call was 
returned. Another call, however, was made upon the same gen- 
tleman, early in the year 1789, which was accepted. 

This estimable and venerable servant of Christ, has been noiv 
more than forty years a pastor of the Church of New- York — s 



NEW-YORK. 



295 



Between the Doctor and these two distinguished 
divines, a warm friendship, as will be seen in the 
progress of the narrative, subsisted for many years. 

The Doctors residence on Long-Island appears 
to have been only during the summer months : in 
winter he occupied his house in the city, and per- 
formed his full share of pastoral duty. The leisure 
gained in consequence of the settlement and assist- 
ance of Dr. Linn, was devoted to the young men 
under his care, preparing for the ministry : — For 
these, the necessities of the Church being so very 
pressing, he was desirous to advance in their stu- 
dies, that they might be examined for licensure at 
the next meeting of the Synod,* which was shortly 
to take place. 



period of service already exceeding that of any of his predeces- 
sors. For about twenty years, he has been the prudent, respected, 
and useful senior pastor ; — may he long be spared as a blessing to 
the Church ! Since 1808, he has officiated, it is believed, alto- 
gether in the English language. 

* The examination of candidates for licensure or ordination, 
belonged, according to the articles of union, to the General Assem- 
blies, or to what were now called, Particular Synods. As the 
Doctor, however, in one of his letters, after speaking of business 
that could come with propriety only before the Convention or the 
General Synod, at their triennial meeting, which was to be held 
the following October, remarks — " There are several young gen- 



.VfiW-YORK. 



The Church had now assumed a form, and pos- 
sessed that magnitude and character which in his 
estimation entitled her to receive all due respect, as 
a body fully capable of self-government, and no 
longer subject to a foreign jurisdiction; but the 
Church in Holland, although it had advised and 
approved of the erection of independent judicato- 
ries here, did not readily recognise, it seems, the 
present system of organization, or exhibited some 
little unwillingness to yield altogether the right of 
dictation and control ; at least, it was suspected 
that such a feeling existed, and he thus expresses 
himself in the letter, just referred to, upon the cir- 
cumstance that led to the surmise. " The letter 
accompanying the acts of Synod, I have not open- 
ed, but have only taken notice of the address, in 
which I find they implicitly deny our being a Sy- 
nod, by giving us the same title we had before our 
present organization ; and this is one thing I wish 
to know your sentiments upon ; whether it would 



tlemen who willappear before the Synod to be examined" — it is 
supposed that this first class was examined by that body, probably 
with a view, in part, that the Church at large, thus assembled, 
might see what proficiency they had made, under the professor's 
instruction. 

For a long time, such examinations have been'conducted by the 
several classes in the presence of Dtputati Synodi. 



NEW-YORK. 



not be proper for us by some article in our minute^ 
or by some clause in our letter, to express our sen- 
sibility upon their silence respecting our present 
judicatories ; for, if we correspond, it ought to be 
continued upon the footing of mutual respect, or it 
may, in its consequences, soon be productive of 
some disagreeable events. Perhaps we have been 
too remiss in not taking notice of this before, or it 
is possible that silence may be the most prudent 
and eligible. I have not yet made up my own 
mind upon the subject, but will cheerfully refer 
myself to your judgment : I wish you would think 
upon it." — There can be no doubt that the Synod 
took a proper notice of this apparently designed 
and reprehensible slight, as the future correspond- 
ence of the mother Church was, to the best of the 
writer's knowledge, perfectly respectful ; but whe- 
ther they did, or did not, it is plain that the Doctor 
himself was scrupulously jealous of the independ- 
ence and dignit} 7 of the Church in the matter ; and 
as in this, so in every other which tended in the 
smallest degree to the injury of either, directly or 
indirectly, he evinced through life, a like sensi- 
bility. 

When the Synod met, a committee was appoint- 
ed, of which it would appear he was chairman, to 

make and publish a selection of Psalms, for the use 

38 



298 



NEW-YORK. 



of the Church in its public worship ; and in a letter 
to the same individual, dated March, 1788, he says, 
in reference to this business — "For my part, I 
have digested only from the first psalm to the fifti- 
eth inclusive. I mean, if it please, God to spare 
health, to go through the whole, and I wish we 
might be so prepared in the work, that we could 
compare our several digests, and make a report to 
the Synod at the next sitting in May." He then 
adds, "I suppose it will be proper, when we get 
the new Psalms printed, to have the Catechism, 
Articles of Faith, and Liturgy, printed and bound up 
with some of the books, and leave it to the pur- 
chasers to get the Psalm-book either with or with- 
out those additions, as the difference in the price 
will be considerable. But a fair opportunity will now 
be offered to publish with our articles and liturgy, 
the form of our discipline and government. The 
Churches in America are all assuming a new com- 
plexion. From being the appendages of national 
Churches in Europe, they now become national 
Churches themselves in this new Empire. All the 
denominations of any importance in America, have 
considered themselves in this new light, and have 
made regulations accordingly : and it deserves our 
attention to see what ought to be done with respect 
to ourselves in this particular, and how far we may 
proceed consistent with the relation we yet claim 



Nil W- YORK. 



299 



to our mother Church in Holland. We are not 
represented, and we cannot have a representation 
in the Churches in Holland, — as such, we have al- 
ready formed ourselves into an independent Sy- 
nod, and we have sufficient proof that some of our 
brethren in Amsterdam would rather we had not 
done this, but their views are contracted, and can- 
not be our rule. It is necessary we should revise 
some articles in our fundamental agreement re- 
specting our church government of 1771, and see 
whether some of those articles do not militate 
against our independent state." 

Under date of March, 1789, to the same, he says, 
"I have received answers from all the gentlemen 
of the committee, and am authorized and requested 
by them to proceed with the printing. The ex- 
pectation and wishes of our Churches are raised, 
and I am continually asked when our Psalms will 
be published. * * * I now only wait for a letter 
from you * * *. As to the translations, and what re- 
spects our Church discipline and government, 
these, I suppose, maybe brought in such readiness 
as to enable us to make some report in the Synod 
of May, and take such further steps, as to lay the 
whole before the Synod of October. But the Sy- 
nod has empowered the Committee, respecting the 
Psalms, to proceed to the printing as soon as they 



300 



NEW-YORK. 



shall agree upon the selection from the respective 
authors." 

Upon this subject, he again writes to the same: — t 
" It was of consequence to us to obtain a copy- 
right of our Psalm Book. As our Synod is not a body 
corporate, I took it out in the name of our Dutch 
Church of New- York ; and, to ascertain the pro- 
perty for the Synod, I have got an instrument 
sealed with the seal of the Consistory, in which a 
declaration is made that this right is held in trust 
for the Synod, and shall always be subject to the 
direction of the same." 

This step was taken at the suggestion of Dr. 
Linn, and some other friends ; and so rapid was 
the sale of the book, that a second edition was 
soon called for. Such a work was, indeed, much 
needed : and with all its faults — for defective it 
was, in several respects, it gave great satisfaction 
at the time ; and, wherever the use of it obtained? 
had a beneficial influence. 

Among the papers of the Doctor, copies have 
been met with, of two letters, — the one to Dr. Har~ 
denbergh, of New-Brunswick, having respect to 
the College in that place, — the other to a private 
friend, Mrs. Judge Livingston, the mother of the 



NEW-YORK. 



301 



late chancellor, relating to points upon which, as it 
would appear, his advice had been asked: and 
parts of the same, it may not be amiss to present 
here, on account of the important opinions contain- 
ed in them, and the evidence they furnish of the 
deep interest he took in all the concerns of the 
Church, whether they were of a general or a local 
nature. — The first is dated March 4th, 1790 : 

" Reverend and dear Brother, 

" The subject we often have conversed upon, 
has never been brought to any decided point % 
whether we differ in sentiment or are fully agreed, 
when every preliminary respecting the execution of 
the plan, is taken into consideration, we do not yet 
know. I am sincerely glad that you have brought it 
forward, in your very acceptable letter of the 23d 
ult. and I will give you my thoughts in answer, with 
candour and confidential freedom ; for, if I know any 
thing of my own heart, I have no particular advan- 
tage or interest in view, but wish to examine the 
question, as I am sure you do, only as it relates to 
the prosperity of the Church, and is calculated to 
promote the general welfare of our Zion. Your 
being at the head of the College, and my being 
placed in the professorate, may, to others, appear 
as an evidence of our being partial to whatever is 
calculated to promote the one or the other of these 



302 



NEW-YORK. 



branches ; and it is possible, a secret influence may, 
undiscerned even by ourselves, warp our judg- 
ments. But I think I view the subject in the same 
light I formerly did,* and am ready to unite in its 
prosecution with the same impartiality, as if I had 
no official connexion whatever in the issue. The 
five reasons you give in support of your sentiments 
are weighty. Each of them is true and import- 
ant, and all of them together carry great conviction 
with them. I thank you for the judicious arrange- 
ment of the arguments, and confess they throw 
such light upon the subject, as leaves little room 
for opposition, if any persons should be found wil- 
ling and desirous to oppose. For myself, I assure 
you, my dear Sir, that I am so far from having any 
inclination to obstruct the prosecution of the plan, 
that I feel sincerely willing to do all in my power 
for its advancement, and as soon as we can digest 
the proper means, I shall be happy to aid in its 
accomplishment." 

" The ambiguity of words and names often occa- 
sions a difference in judgment, and very frequently 



* In his letter to Dr. Westerlo, which was written some time 
before he was elected the professor, and is given in the last chap- 
ter, sentiments were advanced nearly, or substantially the same 
as those expressed in the above, touching the use which should 
be made of Queen's College, 



XEW-YORk. 



promotes jealousies, and even opposition, where, 
in fact, the principal news are the same." 

" My ideas upon this subject haYe always been, 
that the situation of our Churches required a lite- 
rary institution ; not so much for increasing its re- 
spectability by the accomplished character of its lay 
members, (although that is a consideration which, 
in your first and second arguments, you haYe men- 
tioned with great propriety ) but principally to pre- 
pare our youths for the ministry. Theology is the 
branch which is most connected with the Church. 
It is also a branch in which, without arrogance we 
may say, our Dutch Churches are acknowledged. 
even in America, to equal, if not exceed other de- 
nominations : and, if proper steps could be taken 
to lift up an education in Theology, in a conspicu* 
ous and respectable point of Yiew, we might not 
only hope to supply our own immediate wants, but 
also be the means of supporting the great truths of 
our holy religion, and become useful to other deno- 
minations. So far, then, as a College might be 
instrumental to promote this great end, I always 
haYe wished a College might be instituted : but if 
by a College is understood a Literary Institution, 
which expands in all the branches usually taught in 
UniYersities, I imagine it would swallow up all the 
resources which we might be able to obtain, and 



S04 



NEW-YORK 



in that view, after all our efforts, we should still fall 
short of the principal object. * * I believe the reli- 
gious liberty which is now established since the 
revolution in our land, and the liberality of senti- 
ment which characterizes our country, do in a great 
measure lessen the weight of the arguments, which 
before the war might have been urged for the ne- 
cessity of a College upon the broadest basis ; but 
still I know that an attachment to particular deno- 
minations, and a partiality in favour of their own, so 
universally actuates all men. that if we had an in- 
stitution, which would answer the usual purposes 
of educating young persons destined for public 
life, it would be an acquisition to us, and therefore 
I would wish to promote such an institution, provi- 
ded we could agree to set proper bounds to the 
expenses necessary for obtaining teachers and 
apparatus ; and remember that theology was our 
favourite object and principal aim, and all the rest 
was only the porch that led to the temple of reli- 
gious truth." 

"There is a luxury in literature, and a fascination 
in the public approbation, which will easily lead the 
patrons of a College from their original object, 
and tempt them to spend all their strength upon 
the more popular branches of education, unless 
they wisely form their plan, and previously limit 



XEW-YORK. 



305 



themselves by proper restrictions. I think, with 
respect to ourselves, it is very practicable to ascer- 
tain the general system of a College in a line 
which shall procure to us the attention of the public, 
and sufficiently answer all the common purposes of 
Colleges in America, and yet secure the principal 
object, by leaving us in a capacity of establishing 
the theological branch upon a respectable and per- 
manent basis. I am not fully convinced which 
ought to be attempted first, or whether they ought 
both to go together. What you mention in your two 
last arguments appears to be weighty, and I have at 
present no objection against attempting the busi- 
ness in that train. Let provision be made for the 
College first. I am perfectly contented to fall in 
with any plan, which appears calculated to answer 
the principal object which, as ministers of the Lord 
Jesus, we have in view. As to the exertions of the 
Dutch Church in New- York, much may be said in 
apology for a people which has been ruined by the 
war, and are now still straining every nerve to re- 
build their demolished temples. Their wealth is 
greatly diminished, and it is not in their power to 
patronise public objects with the same liberality 
which, before the war, would have been practicable 
for them. But I am confident, if we digest a plan 
in a wise and proper manner, and convince them of 



39 



306 



OTW-YORK. 



its safe and successful operation, they will not with- 
hold their proportional assistance." * 

The second of these letters is dated March 23d, 
1790. 

" Dear Madam, 

for writing, and most sincerely sympathize with you, 
and your whole neighbourhood, in the want of the 
public ordinances of divine worship. The va- 
cant congregations are so numerous, that, as fast as 
we send out new candidates, they are immediately 



* The person to whom this letter was addressed, was a clergy- 
man of high standing and great influence in the Dutch Church, 
and his name deserves a place in the roll of the most useful and 
most honoured of her departed worthies. 

The following brief account of him is taken from the Christian's 
Magazine. " Dr. Hardenburgh was an American. Although he 
had not been favoured with the same advantages in the early part 
of his education, which some of his contemporaries enjoyed, yet, 
with a powerful mind, and habits of persevering application, he 
made such progress in knowledge, that he was justly esteemed a 
great divine.— He was ordained by the Coetus, and was the most 
distinguished and able supporter of that party. His piety was 
ardent ; his labours indefatigable ; and his ministry greatly bles- 
sed. He was the first president of Queen's College, and died in 
that office at Brunswick, in 1792, universally lamented." 



I 



NEW-YORK. 30? 

called, and I know not of any resource sufficient, 
immediately to supply the places which are desti- 
tute. It is expected there will be three or four stu- 
dents who will come forward next fall, but these 
will be very inadequate to the demands of the church- 
es. I know of no remedy for the present, but 
that the respective classes must pay more attention 
to the vacancies within their district, and by a 
punctual rotation of duty, supply such places with 
frequent service." 

" The Methodists, who you mention as indefati- 
gable in promoting their opinions, appear to be in- 
deed very zealous. I am but little acquainted 
with them : I know none of their preachers, and 
can only judge of their doctrines from a few of 
their books which I have seen. I hope, in charity, 
that men who so industriously strive to warn sin- 
ners of the evil of their ways, have the glory of God 
in view ; and I most sincerely wish they may be 
the means of alarming many stupid and wicked 
characters, with which our country abounds. Great 
allowances ought undoubtedly to be made for per- 
sons who are not within the means of proper infor- 
mation, and who are strongly prejudiced against 
certain words and phrases, which, however scriptu- 
ral and true, appear to them to convey an improper 
idea. Under such impressions they may be strongly 



308 NEW-YORK. 

attached to a system which comprehends many 
errors, without seeing the consequences which flow 
from their creed ; but, whatever difference there 
may be in their phraseology, I cannot conceive that 
any who have experienced the saving influences of 
the Blessed Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, and 
received the Lord Jesus, as he is offered in his word, 
can heartily oppose the doctrines of grace as pro- 
fessed by our Reformed Church, or be at real 
enmity against those truths, which not only singly 
vindicate the sovereignty and glory of God, but are 
so connected and mutually support each other, that if 
one is taken away, the whole chain is broken, and 
the plan of redemption, which is worthy of God, and 
illustriously displays all the divine perfections, be- 
comes obscured, if not essentially changed. * * * 
It is said the knowing and learned among them, of 
which there is no doubt a considerable number, 
avowedly adopt the whole system of the Arminian 
doctrines : if so, their opposition to the confession 
of faith of the Reformed Church is easily account, 
ed for." 

" There was, sometime ago, a considerable ru- 
mour throughout the city, respecting the religious 
exercises of many in the Methodist Church. — 
Whether there was any foundation for the favour- 
able report you heard concerning it, I do not know. 



NEW-YORK. 



309 



I wish it may be true ; my soul would rejoice if hun- 
dreds of sinners were savingly converted by what- 
ever instruments the Lord might choose. Instead of 
gainsaying the work, I would most willingly unite 
my thanksgiving to the great Redeemer. But it 
certainly is premature to pretend to ascertain with 
precision, the numbers which are converted upon 
no other evidence than the impressions received, 
or affections expressed, in one hour. It argues an 
ignorance of the human heart, or the pride of party 
ostentation, to come forward with such accounts 
so soon and so positively." 

Two of his particular clerical friends, and most 
able coadjutors in ecclesiastical matters, about 
this time rested from their labours ; and he 
was deeply affected with the loss which the Church 
and himself had sustained in their death. Divine 
Providence, in the removal, within a short space, 
of such men, eminent for their wisdom, piety, 
and zeal, seemed to him to wear a very frowning 
aspect, and to indicate that God had a controversy 
with the Church. 

He thus feelingly expresses himself upon the 
subject, in a letter to Dr. Homeyn, of Nov. 1791 : 
" When I returned home, I was greatly afflicted 
to* find a letter, which announced the death of our 



JSTEW-YORK. 



dear brother Meyer. Another * of our pillars is 
gone. He was a good and great man. We deser- 



*The other person whose death is alluded to, it is presumed, was 
the Rev. Dr. Eilardus Westerlo, of Albany. He died the prece- 
ding year. This excellent servant of Christ " was a native of 
Holland. He had just finished his studies in the university of 
Groningen, when a call from the Dutch Church in Albany was put 
into his hands, which he accepted, and came to America, in 1760. 
He was a man of strong mind, of eminent piety, and of great eru- 
dition, especially in theology, his favourite study, and in Oriental 
Literature. He was highly popular and useful as a preacher ; 
and lived in great honour and esteem with his brethren in the 
ministry, and with the Churches in general, until his removal by 
death." — And to this small tribute to his memory, which is extract- 
ed from the Christian's Magazine, it may be added that he was an 
active, prudent, and leading member of the several judicatories of 
the Church, in which he laboured with zeal to promote every 
good work. At the restoration of peace, and in all that train of 
business which succeeded, and upon the proper execution of which 
so much depended, he acted a conspicuous and important part. 

Dr. Hermanus Meyer was also from Holland, and came over 
to America, in 1762. He was esteemed one of the most amia- 
ble of men, and a learned, pious, and faithful ambassador of Christ. 
He settled first at Kingston. From the Church in this place, how- 
ever, such was the unrelenting temper excited by the unhappy dis- 
pute of the day — he was soon excluded, on the ground of his 
connexion with the Ccetus party. He afterwards took charge 
of a congregation at Pompton, in New- Jersey, and the 
General Synod appointed him their professor of oriental lan- 
guages. Few men stood higher in the opinion of the Church a* 



NEW-YORK. 



311 



vedly loved him, and placed great confidence in 
him. What a dark cloud appears to hover over 
our Churches ! Truly, my dear friend, we have 
reason to mourn, and inquire why the Lord is con- 
tending with us. The ways of Providence are in 
the great deep, and who can foresee the issue. But 
few of us are now left to whom our younger bre- 
thren look for direction and assistance. Surely the 
remnant must become more and more precious to 
each other, and it behooves us to make every ne- 
cessary arrangement for the establishment and 
prosperity of our ecclesiastical matters, with as 
much haste as is consistent with prudence." 

The Doctor was now busily engaged as one 
of a committee which had been appointed to 
prepare a work that should present, in a simple and 
condensed form, the Doctrines, Worship, and Go- 
vernment of the Church. The task was one of 
great responsibility ; and the labour of compiling 
and arranging the matter appertaining to the several 
subjects, was divided chiefly, as it would appear, 
between himself and Dr. Romeyn. A few ex- 
tracts from his correspondence with this gentleman, 



large, or was more generally beloved than Dr. Meyer — and his 
death, so soon following that of the lamented Westerlo, was an 
event calculated to awaken among all who were concerned for the 
welfare of our Zion, sorrowful feelings and painful anticipations. 



312 



NEW-YORK. 



in reference to the business, will give some idea of 
what was his share of it, and of the pains he took 
that the Church might be furnished with a suitable 
manual to regulate her future concerns. 

In a letter dated May 12th, 1790, he says—" I am 
happy to see from your letter, that you are engaged 
in that work, which I have so often requested and 
wished you would finish. The division you make 
is a very natural and proper one ; I have only to 
observe that, under the third head, which is to com- 
prise extracts from the post acta, solutions of ques- 
tions, and subsequent acts and regulations of our 
Synod, you will need more attention to know what 
to leave out, than what to insert. The variety of 
cases which have occurred, and which will for ever 
arise in the Church, upon which some solution or 
determination must be made, are little less than 
infinite, and, from some particular circumstances 
attending them, are seldom found to be exactly 
alike. Nothing more can, therefore, be done in any 
church government, than to lay down some ge- 
neral principles, and leave it to the Synods to 
apply these with prudence and care in the decision 
of particular cases. It will be safe in us not to 
descend too far to particulars in our publication, but 
only exhibit to the world the outlines of our views 
of Church discipline, and our leading principles 
and conduct." 



NEW-YORK. 



313 



In another of July, 1790: * * * * "Your pro- 
gress in our church papers gives me pleasure ; but 
that you find a part of your work is to be done 
over again, is very chagrining. I hope you may be 
able to finish agreeably to the plan you have pro- 
posed, and I make no doubt but it will be accept- 
able to the Synod. Upon looking over the acts of 
our first Vergadering, which contain the outlines of 
our present Church government, I find it will not 
read well in English, to translate the whole, verbo te- 
?ius, from the Dutch. Do you not suppose it would 
answer every purpose of publication, which is to 
convey the standards of our discipline, if the con- 
tents of our grand Jlrtikulen were faithfully given in 
a good, easy English style, without restricting our- 
selves to a full translation of every word 3 which, as 
it was not designed for the press, so in many pas- 
sages, is not sufficiently accurate for that pur- 
pose?" — In another of March, 1791, "I have 
not been able, until within a few days past, to take 
up the subject of our own constitution and disci- 
pline. Upon considering the design of the publica- 
tion, I am fully of your opinion, that there is no ne- 
cessity of adhering strictly to a translation, totidem 
verbis, of the Synod of Dort : nor even of giving 
every article, as many of them are local, and only 
applicable to the Netherlands. It is not a history of 
the Dutch Church as it is in Europe, which we are to 



\ 



#14 NEW- YORK. 

cDmpile, but a true and regular detail of the consti- 
tution of the Reformed Dutch Church in America. 
As our charters and our discipline refer us to the 
Synod of Dort, we must showthat we build upon that 
basis, with such deviations as time and circumstances 
have rendered unavoidable. We have two sources 
from whence we draw our present constitution,— 
one, the Synod of Dort ; — and the other, the resolu- 
tions and fundamental articles agreed upon by our 
Churches, and ratified by the Classis of Amsterdam, 
in the name of the Synod of North Holland. — * 
From these and some subsequent acts of our own 
Synod, our discipline is formed. If we mention 
these sources in the head or title, and then proceed 
to exhibit one regular system, without any circum- 
locutions or repetitions, it will appear more simple 
and connected, and will be better understood, than 
a large translation, and explanatory notes, could 
possibly make it. To this end, suppose a title like 
this was made. " The Constitution and Form of 
Government of the Reformed Dutch Church in 
America, as established in the Synod Nat : of 
Dort, 1618—19 ; and agreed upon in the Assembly 
held at New- York, 1771—72, by and with the appro- 
bation of the Classis of Amsterdam,and finally ratifi- 
ed in Synod, held at New- York, October, 1791."— 
This, or something shorter, which may comprehend 
these ideas, will justify us in making such extracts 



NEW-YORK. 



315 



from each of these sources, as shall, altogether, bring 
forward one complete system. This will show to 
the world what our present constitution is, and suf- 
ficiently prove our connection and adherence to the 
Synod of Dort. I wish to know your ideas upon 
the subject. Please to drop me a line." 

Under date of August 1st, 1791, he says, " I have 
not yet been able to pay much attention to the 
business respecting our church government, but I 
will endeavour to draw out soon, the whole sketch, 
agreeably to our mutual views, and will send it up 
for your inspection." 

Again he says, under date of August 20th : " I am 
so slow in my progress with the Acts of Dordrecht, 
that I know not whether I shall be able to accom- 
plish your expectations." 

The sketch, however, was prepared and submitted 
to the Synod ; but not being in a finished state, was 
again put into the hands of the committee, for re- 
vis al : — And in November, he wrote again — " I will 
try, as the Lord shall give me strength, to attend to 
our constitution, and prepare a fair and accurate 
copy, for the approbation and final decision of 
Synod. The notes and observations you mention, 
must be attended to also ; but they must be short 
and guardedly worded. I wish you would draw 



NEW-YORK. 



out a sketch of such which you especially judge to 
be most important, and send it to me." — In a letter 
dated March, 1792, there is the following para- 
graph : " Upon looking over the papers, as they 
now stand corrected by the Synod, I find the first, 
third, and fourth parts, may be easily brought into 
form, without alterations or additions of much con- 
sequence ; but what to do with the second part, 
which respects our Ecclesiastical Assemblies, I do 
not yet know : as it now stands, it appears deficient. 
To make it intelligible, and answer the purpose of 
a standard for the information of all our members, I 
believe some additions will be found necessary. I 
have not yet digested particulars, but will send you 
a sketch of them as soon as I can get them ready." 

The following March, he wrote again : — " I have 
discovered that to make the whole ready for the 
press, will unavoidably demand more time than can 
be found previous to the Synod in May; I, therefore, 
now put in a plea for an abatement to any promises 
on my part, or injunctions on the part of the Synod 
for that purpose." 

" An idea has occurred to me respecting this 
business, which I wish to communicate and re- 
ceive your advice upon. I find the Synods in 
Holland, &c. as they successively brought forward 



NEW-YORK. 



317 



their Church orders, always retained what the for- 
mer and more ancient Churches had done. This 
they made their text, and added only what might 
be considered essentially applicable to themselves. 
This is remarkably the case in the acts of the 
Synod of Dort, 1618-19. Although several new 
circumstances had occurred, which rendered some 
alterations necessary, yet in their solemn revision 
of the Church orders, they retain almost word for 
word, the rules of the Synod held at the Hague, 
1586, and whatever they judged to be local and 
temporary, they added afterwards in their post acta. 
If we apply this to ourselves, and wish to retain 
the same attachment to the ancient Reformed 
Churches, our line for procedure will be easily 
marked out. * * * * Suppose we should, 
then, by a careful inspection from one article to 
another, collect a short but precise system of ex- 
planations, which as the express work of our own 
Synod, may be added as an organizmg act ; and 
then the original articles, together with our organi- 
zation, will serve to exhibit a clear, and at the same 
time, a respectable Church order. * * * If 
we should adopt this mode, then the exact and pru- 
dent translation, &c. of the original articles will be 
only the smallest part of the work. Our post acta 
will require the greatest deliberation. In this view 
you will acquiesce in my expectation that the work 



318 



NEW-YORK. 



cannot be ready in May next, nor do I see any 
necessity of hurrying ourselves in such a manner as 
to produce an unfinished or undigested work. If 
such an idea should be adopted, as I have now men- 
tioned, there would be no necessity for adding ex- 
planatory notes, and blotting our page with things 
which, perhaps, the people would not understand ; 
but the whole that is local would appear in one 
intelligible act of organization : — But I submit the 
idea to you, and wish you would please to drop a 
line as soon as you can." 

The work was arranged in conformity to the 
plan here suggested, presenting the practice of 
the Church, or the manner in which the Rules of 
Church Government of the National Synod of 
Dordrecht, are applied and executed in this coun- 
try, in a set of explanatory articles, which were 
solemnly ratified in the General Synod held at 
New-York, the 10th day of October, 1792 ; and it 
was afterwards published under the title of " the 

CONSTITUTION OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, 
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

The adoption of" this constitution is a most 
memorable event, as it established that consolida- 
tion of the union, without which, it was much to be 
feared, the union would be but of temporary dura- 



NEW-YORK. 



$19 



tion, and placed the Church in a position to maintain 
her character, to make herself known and respected 
among other denominations, and to prosecute with 
life and energy, any enterprise, the successful ac- 
complishment of which might be deemed essential 
to her future prosperity. And of the Constitution, 
it may be averred, without fear of contradiction, 
that it has proved the Palladium, (if the term be 
allowable) of the Church, or rather the great safe- 
guard, next to the Bible, under the divine blessing, 
of her government, peace, and purity. — It is a good 
caution, Remove not the ancient landmark which thy 
fathers have set ;* and the writer trusts that he will 
not be charged with a want of modesty, or give any 
offence, for taking the liberty here to express his 
hope, that a work which imbodies the results of 
our fathers' wisdom and experience, and which has 
hitherto been attended with such an happy influ- 
ence in the Church, may be preserved inviolate. 

It would be ungenerous, and by no means accord 
with the impartiality of true history, to ascribe the 
whole of this performance to Dr. Livingston ; but 
to all, nevertheless, who are acquainted with its 
contents, the fact must be too evident to be dis- 
puted, after perusing his correspondence, that not a 



* Prov. xxii. 28. 



320 



NEW-YORK. 



small part of the toil and responsibility connected 
with it, devolved upon him. — It is believed, too, that 
he was the first person to propose that a constitu- 
tion of the Church be drawn up, which, as the rea* 
der may recollect, he did in his letter to Dr. R. of 
March, 1788 ;f — and for this, if for no other reason, 
he may with propriety be represented as the Father 
of it, and the representation, it is conceived, in- 
volves no injustice or disrespect to the memory of 
his able and efficient associate. 



t See page^298. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



FROM THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE 
CHURCH, TILL HIS ACCEPTANCE OF THE 
CALL FROM NEW BRUNSWICK. 

The Constitution, being adopted by the Gene- 
ral Synod, was consigned for publication to the 
Committee which had digested it ; and the same 
was published under the inspection of Doctor Li- 
vingston. Under date of May 4th, 1793, he wrote 
to Dr. R. as follows : "I wish it was in my power 
to send you a copy of our Church Orders. They 
are in the press, and have been so for some weeks ; 
but the printer, as usual, goes on slowly. I have 
thought it would be proper to insert after the arti- 
cles of faith and catechism, the Canones Synodi 
Dort : — Our young candidates subscribe them ; 
and they ought to be well acquainted with them. — 
Perhaps also a public testimony in favour of thb 
peculiar doctrines of grace at this day, may be very 
proper not only, but even necessary. Pray is it 
your idea, that we should omit in the Church Or- 
ders of Dort : the particular phrases which express 

what relates fo the magistrate 1 or must we in the 

41 



332 



NEW-YORK. 



translation put every word that is found in the ori- 
ginal? There is a note in the explanatory arti- 
cles, which declares that we have omitted those pe- 
culiarities, and, in the preface, it can also be men- 
tioned. Upon the whole, I think it will not only be 
more intelligible to our people, if we leave those 
parts out ; but it will spare a number of apologies 
and explanations, we shall be for ever obliged 
to be making. 9 ' 

In a letter of June, 1793, he informed him that 
the work was going on, and far advanced, and then 
added — " I hope it will be executed in an accept- 
able manner. Some of the Anabaptists, in a letter, 
have expressed their uneasiness at the harsh ex- 
pressions in our articles of faith respecting them. 
The people meant in those articles were then call- 
ed Anabaptists ; but those who now pass by that 
name, do not hold such sentiments. Notice must be 
taken of that in the preface : I wish a note had 
been added at the foot of the article, for it is not 
our design to give offence ; but the articles are al- 
ready stuck off." 

The publication of the work was completed 
soon after, and in the preface, he inserted a para- 
graph explanatory of the terms which had been 
considered objectionable and injurious to the cha- 



3TEW-Y0RK. 



racter of the Baptist denomination, as known in this 
country. 

The Doctor watched over the Church, as* a tender 
andfaithful parent watchesover abeloved child: and. 
the relation which he sustained to her, as the pro- 
fessor of theology, gave him a kind of paternal in- 
fluence in all her concerns. It was not viewed as in- 
delicate obtrusion in him to offer his advice, though 
it were not expressly solicited, upon any question 
of general importance, or likely to affect in the issue, 
the welfare of the Church '.—That was, in fact ? 
his prerogative, seemingly by common consent, on 
account of his station and eminent personal quali- 
ties; and he would, whenever the occasion was 
such as to require it, promptly and without reserve, 
yet modestly or without assuming authority, ex- 
ert himself to prevent, if possible, an apprehended 
evil. 

The Trustees of Queen's College had, the pre- 
ceding year, with the approbation of the General 
Synod, made some attempts in the Churches to in- 
crease the funds of their Institution ; but these 
attempts proving only partially successful, they 
became discouraged and desirous, it would seem, 
to rid themselves of a charge, which had hitherto 
continually disappointed their hopes, and involved 



324 



3NEW-Y0RK. 



them in trouble. A plan was now conceived for 
forming a union with the College at Princeton, and 
an overture with this intention, was actually sub- 
mitted to the Trustees of that College. When 
information of these facts reached New-York, the 
Doctor, with many others, was thrown into a state 
of painful anxiety, and felt much alarmed for the 
mischief which he foresaw a measure so unadvised 
would, if pursued, inevitably produce. A meeting 
of the Trustees being called shortly after, to deli- 
berate and decide upon the whole business, — at 
the request of Dr. Linn, he presented a full ex- 
pression of his opinion in writing which, it is presu- 
med, that gentleman read at the board. — The 
paper containing this opinion was enclosed in the 
following letter— 

" My dear Colleague, 
" Agreeably to your request, I have committed 
to writing my sentiments upon the proposed union 
between Brunswick and Princeton. It was im- 
possible to communicate what I suppose to be the 
public opinion respecting this business, without 
being prolix upon some points. As you wished for 
full information, you will readily excuse the length 
of the enclosed. I need not tell you that I am per- 
fectly indifferent, as to myself, and feel wholly 
independent of any consequences which may arise 



3SEW-YORRo 



325 



from the issue of this question, be the determina- 
tion whatever it may. But, I acknowledge myself 
greatly concerned for the Church of Christ, and am 
a sincere friend to both Colleges. From the enlarg- 
ed and proper views you have of this matter, I 
am confident you will bring conviction to those who 
have hitherto considered the subject in a different 
light, I wish you may be an instrument, in this 
instance also, of doing great good for Zion. Be 
assured of my esteem, and sincere respect, and 
affection, and that I am ever 

" Totus tuus, 

" J. H. Livingston. 

" October 25, 1793." 

The paper is headed " Observations upon the 
Overture respecting an Union between the College 
at Brunswick, and that at Princeton and com- 
mences thus :— " It is reported that the Trustees of 
the College at Brunswick, have appointed a Com- 
mittee to meet with a Committee from the College 
at Princeton, in order to devise a plan for uniting 
those two institutions. — That the two Committees 
have met and formed a plan ; the outlines of which 
are, that both the Colleges shall surrender their 
charters, and obtain one new charter, which shall 
establish the College at Princeton, comprehend 
the funds of both, and increase the number of Trus- 



me 



N£W>YGRK, 



tees, the one half of which shall be from among the 
Trustees of each College, respectively ; and that 
an academy shall be erected at Brunswick, under 
the immediate care and patronage of the Trustees." 

The paper is too long to be inserted entire, 
but a few extracts will show the manner in which 
he treated the subject.— In the introduction he 
says, " When proposals, which comprehend ob- 
jects of such magnitude are under consideration, 
it becomes the duty of every person, who is capa- 
ble of throwing light upon the subject, to examine 
with candour, the proposed plan, and point out the 
train of consequences, which will inevitably suc- 
ceed, if wrong measures should be pursued. It is 
no reflection upon the most respectable characters, 
however exalted and justly revered they may be 
for their integrity and information, to suppose there 
may be some things which may have escaped their 
notice, and which, if pointed out, with due defer- 
ence, they will cheerfully attend to. It is not the 
intention of the writer of these observations, to call 
in question the principles or conduct of any con- 
cerned, in the overture now before the public. — 
He knows the persons to be men of honour and 
conscience, and is convinced that they aim at the 
glory of God and the good of mankind ; but he is 
equally convinced that the subject has not been 



NEW-YORK. 



327 



thoroughly investigated, nor the nature and effects 
of the plan fully examined. He needs no apology 
for the freedom he takes. He is conscious of his 
benevolence, and knows he is actuated by a sin- 
cere and disinterested desire of preventing good 
men from doing, what, in the issue, may prove an 
irremediable evil. With the utmost plainness and 
candour, therefore, he will first examine whether 
the steps already taken, and the plan proposed by 
the Trustees of Queen's College, in their late over- 
ture, are justifiable and ought to be pursued. — 
And then if it shall appear the plan is impracticable, 
point out what can and ought to be done, to an- 
swer the design of the Institution, and meet the ex- 
pectation and wishes of its friends and patrons." — 
These, and a few more conciliatory remarks being 
made, he glances at the manner in which the busi- 
ness had been conducted thus far, and then par- 
ticularly considers the plan proposed. 

His arguments against the adoption of the plan 
are irresistibly conclusive. — He proves, in the first 
place, that " Two Institutions seated at a distance 
from each other, and supported by different inte- 
rests, can never be united. The funds of one may 
be given away to the other ; but to call that a union, 
would be an abuse of language." In the second 
place, that " admitting an union with Princeton to 
be possible, admitting the Trustees possess a 



328 



NEW-YORK. 



power in law to surrender their charter, and give 
away their funds to any person or institution they 
may choose," it would be, nevertheless, very impro- 
per for them to do so, and would involve a violation 
of solemn obligations. At the close of this argu- 
ment, he observes, " When Hackensack repeated- 
ly offered to give several thousand pounds, if the 
College might be moved to that place, it was always 
strenuously objected by the Trustees, that such re- 
moval was impracticable ; that it would be a betray- 
ing of the public trust and confidence ; that the 
moneys had been expressly given in the expecta- 
tion of their being expended in Brunswick, and that 
therefore, no temptation or offer, could justify them 
in removing the institution. But, if a bare remo- 
val, when the charter, the nature of the College^ 
and its patrons still remained the same, would 
operate to a betraying of the public faith, what 
must be thought, and what will be thought, of a plan 
which effects, not only a removal, but an alienation 
of the funds, with the total extinction of the charter, 
and all the hopes and expectations of its friends and 
benefactors T 

In discussing the second thing — " What can and 
ought to be done to answer the design of the in- 
stitution T he says, " That the charter of Queen's 
College was obtained by the immediate agency 
and influence of several pious ministers, and mem- 



NEW-YORK. 329 

bers of the Dutch Church, with a particular design 
of rendering it subservient to a regular theological 
education, and to prepare young men for the minis- 
try of the Gospel. That while in its first organization, 
from a want of competent funds, attention was only 
paid to the usual studies pursued in other Colleges, 
yet the main object was never lost sight of by its 
well-informed friends and benefactors. — That 
Queen's College was early recommended to the 
Synod of the Dutch Churches, as an institution im- 
mediately adapted and intended to supply the 
wants of the Churches, and was warmly and uni- 
formly patronised by the Synod for that very pur- 
pose, as appears by a variety of minutes entered, 
year after year, upon their records : the late efforts 
made by the Synod in its behalf, prove that the 
Dutch Churches, notwithstanding the backward- 
ness of some of the Trustees to meet the wishes of 
the Churches in their favourite object, still retain- 
ed their attachment to the College, and still cherish- 
ed a confidence that the Trustees would ultimately 
co-operate in rendering Queen's College particu- 
larly useful, for the very end for which the charter 
was obtained.— -That while Brunswick yields from 
necessity, as well as principle, to Princeton, and 
cheerfully consents to let that elder and very re- 
spectable institution continue the unrivalled seat of 
literature, Queen's College can yet, with propriety 

and dignity, prosecute that other end which was 

42 



NEW-YORK. 



expressly contemplated from the beginning. So far, 
then, from annihilating the charter, or taking steps 
which distress the public mind and create new 
feuds, let the charter and the trustees remain with- 
out any alteration, as they now are : — if nothing 
was in prospect, it would still be advisable to keep 
the whole in being : let it rather lie dormant until 
something can be done, but let it not be prema- 
turely slain." 

H But something can be done; the very thing for 
which the charter was obtained is now within the 
reach of the Trustees. Let a Divinity Hall 
be erected, and the funds at Brunswick be imme- 
diately and solely applied to the support of as 
many professors in theology, as shall be found 
necessary and practicable." 

" The execution of this plan can be effected inde- 
pendently of any union, either nominal or real, with 
any other institution, and will undoubtedly operate 
best, when least entangled with collateral stipula- 
tions. But if any fraternal overtures can be devised, 
which will extinguish former jealousies, and promote 
mutual confidence with Princeton, it may not only be 
very desirable in the first instance, but may even- 
tually produce an intercourse and affection, which 
will promote the common interests of truth and reli- 
gion, and finally bring the Presbyterian and Dutch 



NEW-YORK. 



331 



Churches much nearer to each other, than any 
forced measures and unpopular plans can possibly 
effect. The College at Brunswick may, per- 
haps safely engage with that at Princeton, to drop 
the whole under-graduate education, and give no 
degrees of Bachelor or Master, but always recom- 
mend the students from their Academy to Prince- 
ton : — The Trustees of the latter may engage to ap- 
point no professor in theology, but to acquiesce 
in the professorate established by the Trustees in 
Brunswick, with the approbation of the Synod of 
the Dutch Churches, and to recommend their stu- 
dents in theology always to Brunswick. Both may 
unite to promote the interests of both, and mutually 
endeavour to increase the funds of each other for 
the respective objects they pursue*" 

These extracts are sufficient to exhibit the drift 
of this communication. — In a letter to Dr. T. 
Romeyn, dated January 2 1st, 1794, he says, "You 
have no doubt heard that, at a meeting of the Trus- 
tees of Brunswick College, the overtures present- 
ed by a committee, respecting an union with Prince- 
ton, were rescinded, in consequence of which, the 
affairs of that Institution are reverted to, or rather 
continue in, their former state. What the Trus- 
tees will next resolve, I do not know, nor do I be- 
lieve they know themselves, I have understood 
from some of them, that they expect the Syrm^ 



NEW-YORK. 



will give them advice, or make some proposals to 
them ; but I have seen only one or two of them: — 
what the sentiments of the board, or the majority 
of them are, I do not know. Whether they will 
not let the whole lie dormant, and nurse their fund 
until some future day, or whether they will still try 
to do something is, I believe, uncertain ; and by, 
what I can learn, no particular plan is as yet formed 
by them." 

Such, then, was the termination of an affair which, 
at the time, awakened a good deal of feeling in the 
Church ; and it is not improbable that, for that ter- 
mination, the Church is much indebted to the sea- 
sonable and cogent remonstrance of the Doctor, 
supported and enforced, as it no doubt was, by the 
powerful eloquence of Dr. Linn. 

No man could be more scrupulously attentive 
than the Doctor was, to all the important duties of 
private life. In his conduct in his family, he 
afforded, at all times, a pattern of the tender chari- 
ties of husband, father, master, friend. The order, 
peace, and love, always visible in his house, and the 
affectionate respect with which every member of it 
uniformly treated him, could scarcely fail to con- 
vince any guest who partook of his hospitality, of 
the habitual piety and gentleness of his deport- 



NEW-YORK. 



333 



ment. And, indeed, it would be easy to furnish 
from some of his letters to his friends, written about 
this time, were it necessary, pleasing and satisfac- 
tory evidence that he was amiable in every domes- 
tic relation. — In almost every one, the kind concern 
which he felt for his family is apparent ; but in 
those particularly, penned when either Mrs. Living- 
ston, or his son, were considered seriously indis- 
posed, it is plain that both the mother and the 
child were the objects of an unceasing and most 
tender solicitude, and yet that the strength of natural 
affection, and the influence of Christian principle, 
were at once in his heart, in harmonious operation. 

The city of New- York had been, for several years, 
blessed with the ministrations of a number of pious, 
orthodox, excellent servants of Christ, who were 
remarkable as well for their reverend simplicity 
and dignity of manners, as for their zeal and faith- 
fulness in the work of their Master. 

One of these ministerial fathers, the Rev. Doc- 
tor John Mason * of the Associate Reformed 



* This eminent divine was a native of Scotland : settled in 
New- York in 1761, and died in 1792. He has been represen- 
ted to the writer, by those who knew him welUnd often attended 
his Church, to have been a person of extraordinary judgment, ex- 
fensive learning, fervent piety, and singular modesty. It has been 



334 



NEW-YORK. 



Church, had lately died, and those now remaining 
were Doctor Rodgers* of the Presbyterian ; Doc- 



said that when he preached, he fixed his eyes upon some object 
before him, and rarely moved them till he closed his discourse. 

The late Dr. Linn, in his Signs of the Times, thus speaks of 
him in a note :— 

" I shall be excused here in paying a small tribute of respect 
to the memory of a man who was my neighbour and my friend ; 
whom I knew too late ; and of whose value I was hardly sensi- 
ble until I experienced his loss. He had prudence without cun- 
ning, cheerfulness without levity, dignity without pride, friendship 
without ceremony, charity without undue latitude, and religion 
without ostentation. The congregation which he served have 
erected a handsome monument to his memory ; but the most 
honourable monument, is the place he holds in their hearts, and 
the lasting esteem of all who knew him." — Page 143. 

* The Memoir of the late Rev. John Rodgers T 
D. D., from the able pen of the Rev. Dr. Miller, in ah octavo 
volume of about 400 pages, is well known to the Christian pub- 
lic ; and it presents a faithful portrait of its venerable subject 
More cannot be said of him, than is so well and justly said by his 
respected biographer ; and the writer, therefore, will only observe 
here, as a small proof of his own affectionate and grateful re- 
membrance of one who was to him both a friend and a father, 
that he was truly a man Jull of faith and of the Holy Ghost ; 
greatly beloved, and eminently useful in the Church of Christ, 
through a long and active life. There never was, perhaps, a mi- 
nister in New- York, and rarely in any other place, more conspicu- 
ous for all that can constitute sterling excellence, or who possess* 



NEW-YORK. 



335 



tor Kunzie* of the Lutheran ; and Doctor Living- 
ston of the Reformed Dutch, Church. With the 
first in his life time, and with the other two until 
their decease, Doctor L cultivated a cordial and 
unreserved intimacy. He esteemed and loved 



ed a larger share of the confidence, love, and veneration of the 
Christian community. His praise is still in all the Churches. 

* The Rev. John Christopher Kunzie, D. D. was a native 
of the village of Artern, in Saxony, and born in 1744. — After 
spending seven years at the University of Leipzig, he came over 
to America, in 1770, and took charge of a Lutheran congrega- 
tion in Philadelphia. He was chosen in 1780, a professor of the 
University, and a member of the Philosophical Society in that 
city. In 1784, shortly after the war, he settled in New- York. 
He was a divine of profound erudition, and esteemed one of the 
best Hebrecians of the day. For several years, he was professor 
of Oriental languages in Columbia College. His piety was un- 
doubted, and his ministerial labours were highly acceptable to the 
large and respectable Lutheran congregation in this city, 
which he served until his death. — Between him and Dr. L., a sin- 
cere and warm friendship was long maintained, and whenever 
they met, they embraced each other, a mode of salutation which, 
it is believed, is common between males as well as females, in the 
continental parts of Europe. Both Dr. L. and Dr. R. visited 
this excellent man in his last sickness. The first gentleman, at 
one of his visits, put a question, to which the answer was returned, 
" the Saviour is precious to me and the second was much 
gratified, when he cailed one day, to hear him express his views 
of divine truth, which were fully evangelical. He died July, 
1807. 



336 



JSEW-YORK. 



them all as his brethren in Christ ; and there never 
were, perhaps, four ministers residing in the same 
city, each belonging to a different denomination of 
Christians, who afforded in their fraternal and pious 
intercourse, a happier exhibition of the influence of 
that heavenly charity, which accompanies the exer- 
cise of a genuine faith and hope. 

The Doctor, as has been already more than 
once intimated, was naturally a sociable person ; 
and a large circle of other than ministerial friends, 
at this time, claimed and received his friendly atten- 
tions. — And it ought to be remarked, that he sel- 
dom paid a visit, whether of a pastoral or merely 
of a social kind, but he endeavoured to render his 
conversation profitable to all around him, or to inter- 
mingle with it some pious and weighty observa- 
tions, in a manner so impressive, that they could not 
be soon forgotten. Indeed, the narrative of this 
part of his life would be very deficient, if it did not 
notice the pains he took, particularly with youth, 
whether of his own church or not, at every suit- 
able opportunity, to make some salutary and lasting 
impression upon their minds ; and in doing this, few 
men could be more successful. 

A letter to him from the late celebrated 
Lindley Murray, and another from his brother 
John, both, when living, distinguished members of 



NEW-YORK, 



the Society of Friends, relating to interviews with 
him, which it is supposed occurred soon after the 
war, are worthy of being here inserted. They are 
honourable memorials of departed excellence, and 
they will serve to show how the Doctor usually 
employed a portion of the time which was given to 
company. 

The letter of Lindley Murray is in these words : 
" I beg that Dr. Livingston will do me the favour 
to accept a copy of the new edition of my English 
Grammar, as a small mark of the high esteem and 
regard which I have long entertained for him. I 
still remember, with grateful emotion, the short in- 
terview which I had with Dr. Livingston, about 
twenty years ago. The affectionate inquiries 
which he then made respecting my health, his 
Christian temper and deportment, and the unfeigned 
piety of his remark, " that as all our blessings come 
from the Fountain of Goodness, they ought to be 
received with correspondent gratitude," left a most 
pleasing and consolatory impression, which, I be- 
lieve, will never be effaced from my recollection." 

44 Since that period, it has pleased Divine Provi- 
dence to visit me with a very gentle affliction, if it 
can be called an affliction at all, when so many 

blessings are continued : I have not been able to. 

43 



338 NEW-YORK. 

walk, or to use any exercise, except that of riding 
in a carriage. I am, however, comforted in believ- 
ing that my life, in this confinement, has not been 
entirely useless. I have composed a number of 
little volumes for the benefit of the rising genera- 
tion ; and the success which has attended these 
publications, affords me much comfort, and abun- 
dant cause of thankfulness, to the great Preserver 
of my life. 

"I am, with great respect and affection, 
" Dr. Livingston's very sincere friend, 

« LINDLEY MURRAY. 

ki Holdgate, near York, ) 
Great-Britain, 1805." $ 

His brother's letter is of a later date, and it 
concludes as follows : "Almost as long as I have any 
clear recollection of occurrences in my juvenile 
days, I remember my friend, Doctor Livingston. 
Even the simple circumstance of his putting his 
hands occasionally on my head, in a pleasant man- 
ner, when we used to meet at our old neighbour 
Kipp's, at Kipp's Bay : — Since which I have enter- 
tained a regard for thee, and may now say, I renew- 
edly feel my mind impressed with a solicitude for 
thy welfare in time, and for thy happiness in futu- 



NEW-YORK. 



tity.— May thy setting sun go down with increas- 
ed brightness, is the sincere desire of, 

" Thy well-wishing friend, 

"JOHN MURRAY, Jun." 

These expressions of respect have been tran- 
scribed, to give the reader an idea of what was the 
Doctor's usual way of improving time in private 
intercourse with his friends, and of his peculiar 
faculty to conciliate the esteem of young persons, 
and to rivet in their minds instructive or pointed 
apothegms. 

Men engaged in public life frequently complain 
of indisposition, but while they appear to be tole- 
rably well, or continue to discharge their duties, 
their complaints are but little heeded by many, or 
excite but little sympathy. The effect which those 
anxieties, produced by certain domestic circum- 
stances, or by their official responsibilities, or as is 
sometimes the case, by both together — not to men- 
tion their labours,— -can have upon the best human 
constitution, is not considered. Their anxieties 
and their labours are scarcely thought of — and that 
is laughed at, as a mere imaginary or vaporish affec- 
tion, which is, in fact, a real indisposition, and with- 
out due care, may terminate in some dangerous 
disease, — The Doctor rarely knew what it was to 



340 



NW-YOKK. 



fee in perfect health, or entirely free from ailment : 
the pressure of his numerous cares and employ- 
ments, of a public and private nature, he often felt 
very sensibly to be too great for his strength : he 
was at times much debilitated, and afflicted with a 
pain in his breast ; but the Lord enabled him to 
hold on his work, and he was seldom so very unwell 
as to be compelled to intermit his regular service 
in the pulpit. 

About the close of 1792, his labours were consi- 
derably augmented, in consequence of the serious 
indisposition of his colleague, Dr. Linn, who was 
threatened with pulmonic disease, and obliged, 
therefore, for a season, to desist from preaching. 
In a letter to Dr. R — , of January, 1793, he thus 
noticed the occurrence: "May the Lord Jesus be- 
come more precious to your soul, and you rejoice 
in a full assurance of his love ! With respect to 
myself, I bless his holy name, I am strengthened in 
weakness, and enabled to hold on, with a desire to 
be found faithful until death. I am sorry to inform 
you, that my dear colleague, Linn, has some very 
unfavourable symptoms, which have greatly alarmed 
us. About four weeks ago, he began to spit some 
blood mixed with his saliva. This is considered by 
his physicians as an intimation of an approaching 
consumption^ and requires great attention and care. 



NEW-YORK. 



341 



He has not preached since the first appearance of 
that symptom ; and it is to be feared he will not 
preach in some length of time. What the conse- 
quence will be, cannot be foreseen, but it is conjec- 
tured his future health and labours are very preca- 
rious." 

In another, dated May 4th, 1793, to the same, he 
observed — " I have had very steady, and consider* 
able heavy service, the whole winter and spring. — 
Dr. Linn expects to preach to-morrow morning, for 
the first time, since the beginning of last December." 
In another of May 11th : 44 My labours, the winter 
and spring past, have been increased and uniform, 
without any intermission. Last Lord's-day, Dr. Linn 
preached for the first time. His health appears 
to be restored, and I hope there is a prospect of 
his doing well, without any danger of relapses." — 
And again, in one written the following August r 
44 1 greatly sympathize with the destitute congrega* 
tions, and trust the Lord will send labourers in his 
harvest soon, to supply our numerous vacancies. 
There are five or six now with me, who are diligent 
in their studies, and of whom we may hope much 
good. I most sincerely wish it was in my power to 
do greater justice to them ; but, while incumbered 
with the full weight of the parocMalia, it is utterly 



342 NEW-YORK* 

impossible.* Perhaps it may please the Lord to di- 
rect, in his good providence, and in his own time, 
what shall answer our desire." 

It was impossible for him, in present circum- 
stances, to give that attention to professoral duties, 
which his own sense of their intrinsic importance, 
and a due regard to the improvement of the young 
gentlemen under his care, prompted him to ren- 
der : and the General Synod, at length, became 
convinced that it was necessary to adopt some 
measures, that would place their professor in a situ- 
ation to be more devoted to the appropriate busi- 
ness of his office. Accordingly, at a meeting of 
the Synod, held in Albany, June, 1794, the subject 
of the Professorate was taken into serious consi- 
deration, and a committee, of which Dr. T. Romeyn 
was chairman, was appointed, " to consult and 
report upon the same." The report submitted was 
adopted by the Synod, and shall be presented here 
without abridgement. It was as follows : 

" 1. That it is high time to bring this important 
matter to a conclusion. Ten years have elapsed 



* His other colleague (Dr. Kuypers) at this time preached 
only in the Dutch language. 



NEW-YORK, 



64$ 



since the professor was appointed, and no effective 
arrangements have yet been made to enable him to 
fulfil the duties of his appointment. The place 
where the Divinity-Hall is to be opened ; the sa- 
lary to be allowed the professor ; and some pro- 
ductive measures to ensure a sufficient fund, ought, 
without further delay, to be now determined." 

44 2. That to establish an union of the professorate 
with Queen's College, which has hitherto been 
judged practicable and advisable, it is the opinion 
of the Committee, that it will be necessary to re- 
move the College from its present situation, and 
bring it to some place more accessible, and nearer 
to the great body of the churches, which lie in the 
northern parts of the State of New-York : your 
Committee, therefore, recommend, that it should be 
fixed at the town of Bergen, or at such other place, 
still farther to the North, in the State of New-Jer- 
sey, as may be agreed upon between the Trustees 
of the College and the General Synod." 

<4 3. That to effect this removal of the College, a 
Committee be appointed on the part of this Ge- 
neral Synod, to confer with the Trustees of the 
College, and endeavour to persuade them to relin- 
quish the present place in which the College is fixed, 



344 



NEW-YORK, 



and to meet the wishes of the General Synod, in 
a location that will be more commodious for the 
benefit of the Churches." 

"4. That as the overtures made to the Trustees 
of the College may prove unsuccessful, the General 
Synod ought now to determine that, in such case, 
the place where the Divinity-Hall must be opened, 
without being connected with any college whatever, 
shall be in the vicinity of the city of New York ; 
where the students may find all the benefits of 
cheapness and retirement, peculiar to a village, and 
yet be sufficiently near to the metropolis to derive 
all the advantages, arising from a free and easy 
intercourse with the literary and public characters, 
which abound in a city." 

" 5. That your Committee, after mature considera- 
tion, are of opinion, that the town of Flatbush, up- 
on Long Island, is a proper place where the Di- 
vinity-Hall may be opened ; and, therefore, recom- 
mend the same to Synod for that purpose. A flou- 
rishing Academy is there established, which will 
afford an opportunity for the students in theology to 
revise their other studies, and advance in collateral 
branches of education ; and Flatbush comprises all 
the advantages resulting from a village situated 
near a city." 



NEW-YORK. 



345 



"6. That in the present situation of the professor- 
ate, while the Synod is destitute of funds to render 
their appointment independent, and while the pro- 
fessor remains in any measure connected with the 
congregation at New- York, means should be used to 
prevail upon that Consistory and congregation, to 
consent to a dispensation of a part of the parochial 
duties of the professor, and to obtain from them, for 
the benefit of all the churches, that he shall be held 
to preach only once on every Lord's-day, and at- 
tend the consistorial meetings, when necessary and 
convenient ; but that the remainder of his time and 
labour, which may be four days in every week, 
shall be by him devoted to the immediate business 
of his appointment, as professor in theology." 

" 7. That for this purpose, a committee be also ap- 
pointed, to confer with the professor and the Con- 
sistory of the Church at New- York, and to make 
such arrangements with the said Consistory, in re- 
lation to the salary of the professor, as shall be ho- 
nourable and equitable. 5 ' 

" 8. That upon settling what may be necessary 
with the congregation of New- York, the professor 
be requested to embrace the first prudent mea- 
sures of retirement to any place contiguous to the 

44 



I 

346 NEW-YORK. 

said city, which he may judge most convenient and 
eligible, for prosecuting the important purposes of 
the professorate, as long as he remains connected 
with the ministerial duties in the city ; and that the 
Synod engage to give him all their support and coun- 
tenance ; while they strenuously, in the mean time, 
exert themselves to obtain the means for fixing himin 
a proper and independent manner, at the place de- 
termined on as the most suitable for aDivinity~Hali. v 

k< 9. That the General Synod do immediately? 
and without delay, take the most effectual mea- 
sures for raising a fund, to render their professorate 
independent of any particular or individual congre- 
gation ; and for that purpose, the committee recom- 
mend, that the former resolution respecting collec- 
tions to be made in all the Churches, and which 
was revived in the last particular Synod, be now 
adopted and made to originate, with renewed vi- 
gour, from this General Synod ; with this variation 
only, that instead of constituting the Consistory of 
New- York the keepers of the fund to be raised, 
there be three persons joined with Mr. Peter 
Wilson, who shall be Trustees for that purpose, 
until some other measures be adopted by the Gene- 
ral Synod, for rendering the agency in that busi- 
ness more safe and easy." 



NEW-YORK* 



347 



" 10. Tiiat as it is the object and wish of the 
Synod, to obtain the assistance of more than one 
professor, as soon as the Churches shall put it in 
the power of Synod to maintain more, so the com- 
mittee recommend, that this be held up to the 
public view, as an inducement to increase the funds* 
and render them productive for supporting not only 
one, but a sufficient number, if possible, to consti- 
tute a faculty of theology*" 

" 11. As it appears from a representation made to 
tins General Synod, by a committee from the 
Trustees of Queen's College, that no union of that 
institution with the Trustees of Princeton College > 
has taken place, or will probably be ever again at- 
tempted, the committee recommend, that the act 
of the last particular Synod, prohibiting the pay- 
ment of certain moneys collected conditionally, 
under the patronage of the Synod, in favour of the 
College of Brunswick, be no longer in force ; but 
that the persons holding any such moneys thus 
collected, do forthwith remit the same to the Trus- 
tees of Queen's College, or pay them to their order. 9 " 

In pursuance of the request contained in this im- 
portant document, the Doctor, as soon as he could 
conveniently, made the necessary arrangements for 
a removal. The Consistory of the Church consent- 



S4S 



NEW-YORK. 



ed to what the Synod had proposed, with the un- 
derstanding, that he should receive, while he ren- 
dered them but half the usual service, but half the 
usual salary, which was certainly a reasonable 
stipulation; and, to supply the lack of service 
that would be caused by his removal, in the 
autumn of 1795, they called the Rev. Mr. Abeel, 
of Philadelphia, to become one of their pastors. 
The following spring, he left the city, to occupy 
a place which he had purchased at Bedford, a 
little village on Long Island, about two miles from 
Brooklyn ; and here, when fixed in his new resL 
dence, he opened his Divinity-Hall with very 
cheering prospects. 

But it must be obvious that, in complying with 
the wishes of the Synod, he not only sustained a 
considerable pecuniary loss, as he relinquished a 
moiety of his regular stipend from the Church, and 
numerous perquisites, which, as its senior minister, 
he had been in the habit of receiving, but also sub- 
jected himself to no little inconvenience, and, in a 
measure, exposed his health and life. There were, at 
that time, no steam-boats moving upon our waters ; 
and the passage between Long Island and New- 
York, in the boats then in use, was seldom an agree- 
able, and oft times, especially in the winter season, 
was a very dangerous one ; but he must be every 
Sabbath, at least once, in his pulpit ; and other du- 



NEW-YORK. 



ties would make it necessary for him frequently to 
visit the city. In this view, and taking into consider- 
ation the fact, that he had nothing to expect from the 
Synod but their approbation — that they could nei- 
ther make nor promise him any other remunera- 
tion, it must be confessed, that he now made sacri- 
fices, and evinced a disinterestedness, a submissive 
temper, and a regard for the good of the Church at 
large, which justly entitled him to respect and gra- 
titude. 

The great motive to a removal was, the hope of 
being in this situation, more useful as professor, 
than he had ever been before : — and for a while, the 
hope was partially realized. Well known as a sound 
and learned divine — having the requisite leisure for 
the due performance of his duty — and the expense 
of boarding in the country being much less than in 
the city, the number of students immediately in- 
creased, and he was encouraged to believe, that the 
plan which had been adopted for establishing a 
theological school, would be crowned with complete 
success ; but his expectations, however warrant- 
able, as founded upon the late act of the Synod, in 
which that body had displayed a commendable 
earnestness and zeal in behalf of the professorate ? 
and also, upon the favourable commencement of the 
enterprise, were soon and suddenly disappointed. 



350 



NEW-YORK. 



The promise of their support and countenances 
which had been given by the Synod, was not fulfill- 
ed, or rather was hastily, in effect, retracted ; and it 
was not long, as the reader will see presently, 
after all he had done and encountered himself, to 
promote the execution of their plan, before he was 
compelled to abandon it and to return to the city. 

It is not material that the manner, in which the 
Doctor conducted his little seminary, should be 
here particularly related. It will suffice to observe, 
that he ably and satisfactorily discharged his whole 
duty. He taught theology, systematically, in a 
course of lectures, in which the doctrines of the 
Reformation unadulterated, were fully discussed and 
maintained ; and he possessed the faculty of im- 
parting his own sound, clear, comprehensive views 
of divine truth, so as to carry conviction to the un- 
derstanding, and to make a deep impression upon 
the heart. The method he adopted to qualify his 
pupils for the important office they had in view, 
was highly approved, and his deportment towards 
them was uniformly pleasant, affectionate, and 
paternal. They revered and loved him. 

The following extracts from two letters to his 
friend, Dr. R., will show what were his present 
sentiments and feelings upon the subject of the 
interesting institution. The first is dated October 



NEW-YORK, 



351 



i3th, 1796:— "I wished much to have consulted 
with you upon the important subject of the profes- 
sorate, which, notwithstanding all the repeated 
efforts in its favour, and the prudent and decisive 
resolutions of the last General Synod, remains 
wholly neglected and abandoned. I have complied 
with the wishes of the Synod, in removing from the 
city, and relinquishing a part of my parochial duties, 
for the express purpose of having it more in my 
power to do justice to the young gentlemen. 
Since I have retired, I find more leisure for that 
work, and am happy to know, that the students find 
greater advantages, than it was possible for them 
while I remained in the cit} r . But, amidst all my 
exertions, and the sacrifices which I have made to 
bring it thus far, it is still impossible the institution 
can ever answer the expectations of the Churches, 
unless it is patronised and countenanced by the 
public. Public bodies, who feel an interest in its 
prosperity, must turn their attention to it, and sup- 
port it with their influence and smiles, or it will at 
farthest soon die with the individual." 

66 Upon taking a candid review of all the embar- 
rassments with which this institution has struggled, 
and the neglect that hasattended it, Ihave been oblig- 
ed to conclude, that whatever might have been 
the serious determination of those of 1771, who form 
ed the union, or of 1784, who instituted the office, it 



NEW-YORK. 



appears, that it is not the present intention of the 
most of our churches, to have it brought to a 
proper issue : — that as long as I continue, by my 
private efforts, to supply the public wants, nothing 
decisive will be done : — and that, if it remains dor- 
mant much longer, it will sleep the sleep of death* 
and all our resolutions, our promises to the churches 
in Holland, and our serious and solemn engage- 
ments to our own churches here, will end in dis- 
appointment." 

"Under these impressions, I conceived it my 
duty to present to the Synod, a plain statement of 
facts, to assure them that I was willing to proceed 
and devote the remains of my short life to this im- 
portant work, but that I wished for their advice to 
know what would be the most proper and effectual 
measures to bring the whole to a decided issue. 
To this, the Synod have requested me to proceed, 
in my labours with the students, as heretofore ; and 
have determined that it was incumbent upon them to 
carry into effect the resolutions of the General Sy- 
nod, and, for that purpose, have concluded to send 
circular letters to all the congregations. What the 
result will be, cannot be foreseen ; but it is certain, if 
our churches entertain a just sense of the necessity of 
the institution ; — if they reflect, that it is impossible 
to be supplied with orthodox and acceptable minis- 



NJSW-YORK. 



S5$ 



ters, unless some establishment is formed for their 
education ; if they do not choose to be beholden to 
other denominations for the instruction of their 
candidates ; — if they wish to adhere to their own 
discipline, and maintain their reputation and useful- 
ness ; and if they consider it ungenerous for a nu - 
merous, wealthy, and great community to suffer any 
individual member to bear the whole weight alone, 
and that it will be impossible long to sustain the dis- 
couragements which arise from public neglect ;— 
it will be easy for them to unite their influence 
and friendly attention, and bring forward a fund 
that shall suffice to render the Institution indepen- 
dent and respectable," 

" For my own part, as it regards myself, I think I 
have sufficiently proved my disinterestedness. I 
have been silent, passive, and contented ; and I 
am thus far contented still ; but I am convinced, if 
ever the Institution is to be brought forward, and 
rendered extensively useful, when you and I are 
gathered to our fathers, — if our children and their 
posterity are to reap the benefits of it, something 
decisive and spirited must now be effected.'- 

The second is dated Bedford, April 28th, 1797 : 
" If the issue of the business, respecting the resolu- 
tions of the General Synod, be the same in all the 

45 



354 



STEW- YORK. 



Classes, with what you mention to have been in 
your's of January last, we may readily anticipate 
that nothing will, in this way, be done ; and, per- 
haps, it is become altogether impracticable, in the 
present state of the public mind, to raise a fund at 
all. The want of zeal in promoting a cause so in- 
teresting and influential to the welfare, and even ex- 
istence, of our reformed Churches, is greatly to be 
lamented, and may constitute a neglect, for which, 
as a people, we shall be severely responsible. He 
who walketh in the midst of the golden candlesticks, 
and holdeth the stars in his right hand, will know 
and judge, with unerring precision, respecting mo- 
tives, excuses, and conduct." 

" Solemn and repeated resolutions, formed upon 
mature deliberation and clear conviction, have cer- 
tainly produced obligations too strong and binding 
to be now lightly abandoned. Notwithstanding de- 
lays and frequent discouragements, we are still 
bound by every principle sacred to conscience and 
character, to make the most decisive trials, and not 
despair of the divine blessing and concurrence 
upon earnest and faithful efforts. * * * If the 
plan, in one form, will not at present prevail, is it 
not possible to devise another mode, in which it 
may, for some time at least, prove successful ? — 
If it be impracticable to raise a whole fund, whose 



lYEW-YGRK. 



35^ 



interest would suffice, may it not be easy to ob- 
tain, annually, from all the churches, what would 
amount, at least, to as much as that interest ? This ; 
if punctually executed, would serve as a temporary 
expedient, and leave the fund where it now is, in 
the possession of the people," 

M I have, for some years, considered an alternative 
as very practicable and, perhaps ; proper, but from 
a determination of remaining as long as possible, 
passive and silent in all that relates to this busi- 
ness, I do not remember that I have ever commu- 
nicated it to you. Whether it would be found as 
easy in its operation, and sufficiently productive as 
it appears in theory, or whether some consequen- 
ces would not arise from it, which would prove in- 
jurious to the very object in view, I do not know. 
It is simply this— that, instead of collecting a sum 
which shall amount to a capital, as at present con- 
templated, we only determine to raise, every year, 
a small dividend from each congregation, which can 
be effected without any particular effort on the part 
of the people, and may, if properly appropriated, in 
some measure answer the purpose of the Synod." 

" Upon contemplating this alternative, I think I 
find, instead of insuperable objections, something 
which may, in its consequences, even prove benefi 



NEW-YORK. 



cial. It is, indeed, leaving the institution precari- 
ous ; but it renders it immediately dependent upon 
those for whose use it is intended, and may prove 
a proper stimulus to industry and faithfulness. At 
any rate, I conceive it to be the only mode that is 
now practicable, and less calculated to cheapen the 
institution than to raise, by personal applications, a 
fund. I mention it without reserve now to you, 
that you may digest it, and make such improvements 
upon it, as a mature consideration may suggest. 
May the Lord direct to such measures as shall 
preserve the engagements of Synod inviolate, and 
prevent those who have relied upon its sacred 
honour, and risked every thing upon it, from being 
made ashamed !" 

Whatever solicitude or zeal particular individuals 
may have manifested, to effect a redemption of the 
pledge which had been given by the Synod to the 
professor, and there no doubt were a few who exer- 
ted themselves to this end to the utmost of their 
ability, it is certain, that a very culpable indiffer- 
ence with respect to it, pervaded the Church as a 
body. Nothing of any consequence was done ; 
and when but little more than a year had elapsed 
since his removal to Bedford, at the request of the 
Synod, the Doctor found himself placed very un- 
expectedly, by another act of Synod, in a situation 



357 



at once mortifying and embarrassing in no small 
degree. 

The Genera] Synod met again in June, 1797 ; 
and the following is a copy of the record of part of 
their proceedings : 

" The General Synod having minutely inquired 
into the measures pursued time after time, in order 
to raise a fund for the support of the professorate, 
and the success of those measures, the following 
question was taken : Is it expedient, under present 
circumstances, to take any further measures for the 
support of the professorate ? — which was answered 
in the negative." 

" The General Synod then appointed a commit- 
tee on this business, who brought in a report, which, 
after being amended, was agreed to, and reads as 
follows, viz." 

" The committee appointed on the professorate, 
report : that Professor Livingston ought to be im- 
mediately informed of the determination of Synod, 
that it is not expedient under present circumstances, 
to take any further measures for the support of the 
professorate ; that they express to him the sense 
which they entertain of the important services 
which he has already performed ; that it will be 



35b 



NEW-YORK. 



highly acceptable to them, if he can still continue 
to discharge the duties of the office under the dis- 
couragements that exist ; and that a minute of the 
determination referred to, with this report, be trans- 
mitted to him for the purposes above-mentioned." 

At this session, the Rev. Dr. T. Romeyn, and the 
Rev. Solomon Frceligh, were appointed additional 
professors of theology. These gentlemen had 
been authorized, at least since the year 1794, to 
act as assistant teachers of theology, probably at 
first for the accommodation of young men who 
could not well afford the expense of boarding in 
New- York ; but their students could not be admit- 
ted to an examination for licensure, without having 
previously obtained the certificate of the regular 
professor, and to supersede the necessity, which 
had been often attended with much inconvenience, 
of applying for such certificates, they were now 
duly invested with the professoral office. 

This measure being adopted by the Synod, 
which amounted in fact, for a time, to a complete 
desertion of the seminary, the Doctor, of course, 
returned to the city, and resumed all his pastoral 
duties. Such young men as wished to prosecute 
their studies under his direction, were still cheer- 
fully and faithfully attended to ; but, for several sue- 



NEW-YORK. 



359 



ceeding years, he was chiefly devoted to the be- 
loved people of his charge, among whom his la- 
bours continued to be acceptable and useful. 

No event occurred after this, worthy of particu- 
lar notice, until the year 1804, when the plan of the 
professorate underwent another important alter- 
ation. The Doctor, meanwhile, as a lover of 
peace, quietly acquiesced in the arrangements 
which the Synod had thought proper to make. — 
He showed no resentment. He uttered no com- 
plaints ; or if any did proceed out of his mouth, it 
was only among some of his most intimate friends— 
and that any did, even in private intercourse, the 
writer has never understood. That he considered 
himself slighted, and that his feelings were deeply 
wounded by what the Synod had done, it is natural 
to suppose ; but whether such was the case or not, 
his conduct under it was meek, submissive, dig- 
nified : — and, indeed, he knew his brethren too well 
to imagine, for a moment, that they had not honestly 
consulted the existing state of the Church, in pur- 
suing this course, without intending him an ill re- 
quital, or designing to convey by it any unfavour- 
able sentiment with respect to his services. 

For Dr. Romeyn, between whom and himself it 
might have been surmised there would be now~ 



360 



NEW-YORK. 



some little rivalry, he appears to have cherished 
undiminished affection : and pleasing evidence 
of the fact will be found in the following extracts 
from two letters of friendship to that gentleman, 
and from one to the son of the same, upon the oc- 
casion of his father's death. 

In one, dated New- York, August 27th, 1802, after 
adverting to the late indisposition of his friend, 
he thus writes : — 46 In every period of life, we 
are exposed to strokes that may weaken, or even 
destroy our feeble frames. At the stage to 
which you and I are arrived, we must not therefore 
be surprised or discouraged to meet with what 
others, at a much earlier hour, have had to struggle. 
I am confident you view the dispensation as you 
ought, and feel that resignation which is at once an 
evidence of divine grace in the soul, and a ? sure 
source of contentment and peace. To look unto 
Jesus, to renew the covenant with him, and to know 
in our blessed experience, that he is made of God 
unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifi- 
cation, afford substantial comfort in the severest 
trials, and increase our assurance that he will also 
to us become redemption. Such views and efforts 
of faith produce strength equal to our day, and 
excite at times, a joy unspeakable and full of glory." 



" He whom we serve, and whose we are, has said. 



! 



NEW-YORK. 



361 



and he can and will confirm his word, that all 
things shall work together for good to them who 
love God ; and his people have always put their 
seal to this precious promise, and, sooner or later, 
been made to exclaim, it is good for us that we 
have been afflicted. It must be so. All pains, 
sickness, disappointments, and trials of every kind, 
are in themselves bitter, and no chastening for the 
present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous ; never- 
theless afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of 
righteousness to them which are exercised there- 
by. Sanctified afflictions are among the precious 
benefits of the everlasting covenant. Through all 
the changing scenes and various ways in which his 
saints are led, however intricate, gloomy, and unex- 
pected they may prove, he has pledged his truth 
that he will guide them by his counsel, support 
them with his grace, and never leave nor forsake 
them. May you, my dear friend, be comforted 
with these consolations, and bear constant testi- 
mony to the faithfulness and fulness, the love and 
power of our adorable Redeemer," 

" You and I are nearly of the same age ; I am in 
my 57th year. We are thus literally fellow-travel- 
lers, engaged together from our youth in one and 
the same work. It affords high satisfaction to have 
cause to hope, that we have in our day been of 

46 



NEW-YORK. 



some use in the Church of Christ, and obtained 
grace to be in our measure faithful to the trust repos- 
ed in us. Happy should we be if, in the retrospect, 
we could find more zeal, purer exertions, in the ser- 
vice of the greatest and best of Masters. The 
Lord strengthen and sanctify us, that we may con- 
tinue faithful and useful even to the end of life ; 
that our last fruit may be the ripest; and our 
setting sun shine bright and serene." 

"What the spirit of infidelity may yet produce ; 
with what opposition the disciples of the Lord Je- 
sus will have to combat ; and what may be particu- 
larly impending over that part of the Church with 
which we are more immediately connected, are 
impossible to be foreseen ; and it is best that future 
events should thus far be covered with an impene- 
trable vail. Enough, however, may be anticipated 
to prompt to double vigilance, and justify us in 
recommending vigour and patience, unanimity 
and fortitude, to our younger brethren, who are to 
remain as watchmen when we are gone, and are 
to stand where we stood on the walls of Zion. — 
I trust God will preserve these, and raise up 
others, who shall with them become faithful wit- 
nesses for his truth and cause, and that He will 
erown their labours with his blessing. At times, 
I have been greatly discouraged, and from a variety 



NEW-YORK 



363 



of concurring circumstances, have feared that the 
blessing we once expected would never be real- 
ized, and that the day for effecting any thing import- 
ant has been suffered to pass unimproved ; but I 
have learned to dispel anxious fears, and patiently 
to wait and humbly hope in the Lord. In his own 
time, in his own way, and by his own instruments, 
he will work all his pleasure, and his poor people 
who trust in him, shall never be made ashamed.— 
In this confidence, my dear Sir, we may put up our 
prayers in faith, and rest assured that if we do not ? 
yet our successors will, see the goodness of God to 
his chosen, and rejoice in his mercies upon Zion.'* 

€£ Whenever I come in the northern quarter, I 
promise myself the pleasure of making you a visit ; 
but I have no expectation of being able, during 
the present season, of going so far from home. In 
the mean while, let me unite with all your other 
friends, in recommending great attention, and that 
you do not, by any undue exertion of mind or body, 
weaken or injure what yet remains of health. The 
Lord pitieth them that fear him, for he knoweth 
our frame* He remembereth that we are dust.— 
Accept of my wishes and prayers, that the Lord 
may strengthen and continue you still a blessing 
to his church ; that he may comfort you with his 
presence, and give you great peace and joy in 



NEW-YORK. 



lieving ; and believe me to be, with sincere respect, 
" Reverend and Dear Sir, 
" Your affectionate friend, 

" And brother in the Lord, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON. 

6 >Rev. Dr. Romeyn." 

The other being short, is presented entire. 

"New-York, May 31, 1803. 
" Reverend and Dear Sir, 

" Frequently since your kind and very accept- 
able letter came to hand, I have determined to 
write to you. But whether ordinary duties re- 
quire more attention than heretofore and press with 
greater weight ; or whether a languor, in the least 
exertion, marks our advancing years ; so it is, that 
between duties and languor, I neglect what was 
once my delight, and I have not done what I inten- 
ded to perform in this instance." 

" I wish very much to see you, and hope you will 
find yourself able to be present with us at the ap- 
proaching session of the General Synod. We 
reside at so great a distance apart, that unless we 
meet upon such occasions, we have little hope of 
enjoying each others company. The subjects you 



NEW-YORK. 365 

mentioned in your friendly letter, are very import- 
ant. They are worthy of our maturest consi- 
deration and joint efforts ; and I shall be happy to 
unite with you in promoting the peace and pros- 
perity of our precious Zion." 

" Endeavour, my dear brothre, to meet me at 
Poughkeepsie. Summon up the energy requisite 
to undertake the journey. The exertion may be 
of service even to the languid body ; and it will, no 
doubt, refresh your mind. The Lord strengthen and 
comfort you, preserve you on the way, and ren- 
der our interview pleasant to ourselves, and profit- 
able to his Church ! Accept of my sincere love, 
and be assured of the respect and esteem with 
which I am, 

" Reverend Sir, 

" Your affectionate friend, 

" And brother in the Lord, 

" J. H. LIVINGSTON, 

i; Rev. Dr. Romeyn." 

The next extract is from his letter to the Rev. 
Mr. (afterwards Doctor) J. B. Romeyn, upon 
learning the decease of this gentleman's father.* 



* The Rev. Dr. T. Romeyn was one of the brightest orna- 
ments and most useful ministers of the Dutch Church. — In vigour 



366 NEW-YORK. 

« New-York, Jpril 26th, 1804. 

" Reverend and very dear Sir, 

6 ' Yesterday evening your favour came to hand, 
which announced the departure of your worthy and 
venerable parent, whom I have been happy to call 

of intellect) learning, piety, and zeal, there were few superior 
to him — and the letters of Dr. L. to him , afford a strong attesta- 
tion of his eminent worth, and of the great influence which he 
had in her several assemblies. Of four or five — Dr. Westerlo, 
Dr. Hardenburg, Dr. Meyer, Dr. Romeyn, and Dr. L. whose 
heads, and hearts, and hands, had been very remarkably united in 
some of the most important business of the Church, and who had 
laboured with equal zeal and perseverance to promote her best 
interests, the latter was now the only one left. 

The following tribute of respect to the memory of Dr. Romeyn, 
is given in a volume of the sermons of his distinguished son, the 
late Rev. Dr. J. B. Romeyn, of New- York, as an extract from the 
funeral sermon, preached on the occasion of his death, by his col- 
league and successor, the late Rev. John H. Mier. (See Vol. !• 
page 194.) 

" The reverend Dr. Romeyn possessed a mind strong and ener- 
getic, and more than ordinarily comprehensive, capable of view- 
ing things in their natures, their connexions, their dependencies, 
and ends. His apprehension was quick, his understanding clear 
and informed. His judgment was sound and mature, and 
his memory remarkably retentive. In the application of these 
powers of mind, he was chiefly bent upon his professional studies. 
In these he most delighted, and laboured most of all to excel. 
He was versed in the circles of general science, well read in hi*- 



NEW-YORK. 



867 



my friend and brother in the ministry, for many 
years. Nearly of the same age, we commenced 
our labours almost at the same time, and have ob- 



tory, and had made no mean attainments in the philosophy of the 
human mind." 

"In the discharge of his ministerial functions, be proved him- 
self an able minister of the New Testament, a watchman that 
needed not be ashamed. As he had loved the doctrines of grace, 
and had experienced their power and influence on his own heart, 
so also he insisted upon them in his public ministrations. His 
theme uniformly was Christ and him crucified. His manner was 
bold, intrepid, and daring. In the execution of his duties he 
was neither daunted nor moved. He was the Boanerges of the 
day. When he reproved, the sinner trembled, When he pro- 
nounced Ebal's curses against the wicked, it was like the thunders 
of Sinai. He, however, was not incapable of the pathetic. He 
could, at times, move the heart and melt the audience into tears. 
His discourses were solid and interesting, oft-times enlivened by 
historical anecdotes. In the introduction of these, he was peculiarly 
happy. He always entered deep into his subject. His delivery 
was animated and unaffected, without ostentation, and becoming 
his subject. He aimed at nothing but what was perfectly natural." 

" In his intercourse with the world, he supported a becoming 
dignity. Independence of sentiment marked his path through its 
busy rounds. He knew not how to dissemble. He was polite 
to all, familiar with few. This rendered the circle of his intimates 
contracted, and the number of his confidential friends small. In 
his conversation he was interesting, always instructing. His fa- 
mily in him have lost an affectionate relative, a watchful guar- 
dian, and a great example ; the church a pillar, and society an 
ornament." 



668 



NEW-YORK. 



tained grace to continue longer in the service of our 
Blessed Master than many others. I went to see 
him last summer, and was greatly affected to find 
him so much debilitated, and from the usual pro- 
gress of paralytic symptoms, did not expect he 
would ever recover his former strength. I see 
from the account you give, that he has very gra- 
dually declined, and his latter end has been peace. 
He gently fell asleep, committing his spirit into the 
hand of his Divine Redeemer. Blessed are the 
dead who die in the Lord. This proves a source 
of precious consolation, my dear young friend, to 
you, while it suggests a powerful argument to fol- 
low those, who through faith and patience inherit 
the promise. You cannot, indeed, mourn as those 
who have no hope. Adoration and praise unite 
with grief and resignation ; and even this event is 
within the promise, which engages that all things 
shall work together for good, for them that love 
God. The Lord sanctify this new trial, this seri- 
ous bereavement to you ! Your heavenly Father 
still lives ; your precious Jesus, your best friend, 
has engaged to guide you by his counsel, and after- 
wards receive you to glory. Let this be your con- 
solation. Let this encourage you to live by faith, 
to walk with God, and be wholly devoted to his 
service." * * * * 

" Your very affectionate 

J. H. LIVINGSTON." 



NEW-YORK. 



It was said that the plan of the professorate was 
again altered. The General Synod, at their ses- 
sion in this year, viewing the appointment which 
had been made of two additional professors in 1797? 
as a temporary expedient designed to meet certain 
circumstances which then existed, passed this reso- 
lution — " That the Reformed Dutch Churches will 
unite their efforts to promote the establishment of 
only one professor in theology, and will employ vi- 
gorous measures to raise a fund for the same ; pro- 
vided, however, that the professors appointed by 
the General Synod of 1797, continue in their offices, 
and enjoy all the honours and emoluments thereof, 
equally with one professor contemplated to be es- 
tablished by this resolution, during their natural 
Jives, or as long as they behave well, and are capa- 
ble of discharging the duties of their offices. But 
in either, or in any of these cases, which would va- 
cate their offices, no successor shall be appointed," 

Dr. Livingston was now duly chosen the perma- 
nent professor, * whose temporary seat should be 
in the city of New- York, " subject, however, at all 
times, to the government of Synod, with respect to 



* The General Synod at this Session appointed two profes- 
sors of the Hebrew language— the Rev, John Bassett. and the 
Ber, Jeremiah Romevn. 

47 



mo 



NEW-YORK. 



a more eligible or expedient place for this pur- 
pose," and a committee was appointed to devise 
ways and means to raise a fund for his support. — 
This act of Synod, which made all the honourable 
amends then in their power, for any real or sup- 
posed injury he had sustained under the other act, 
though it produced no immediate results of conse- 
quence, ultimately led to a separation from his 
pastoral charge, and to his permanent removal 
from the city. 

The health of the eloquent and eminent Linn* 
had now become so enfeebled, as to induce him to 
solicit a dissolution of his connexion with the con- 
gregation ; and this event, * which took place the 



* Dr. Linn, when he found his health was sinking fast, wished 
to retire, and wrote his venerable colleague the following note 
upon the subject, dated January 29, 1805. 

" My dear Colleague, 

" I cannot think of taking a measure extremely interesting 
to me, without your advice and assistance. The inclemency of 
the weather, together with my indisposition, prevent me from 
waiting upon you. I have not been out of the house for more 
than a week ; during which time, my health and spirits have 
greatly declined. 

" I am now fully persuaded, after repeated struggles, that I am 
not able to perform the duties which the congregation expect from 



NEW-YORK. 



371 



following spring, increased of course, proportion- 
ably, the parochial labours of the Doctor. In some 
respects, these labours were lighter probably than 



me ; and have determined to propose to the Consistory to retire 
upon such conditions, as shall be mutually deemed just and ho- 
nourable. I mean to propose none in the first instance ; but to 
go to the country, having no pastoral charge, and preaching occa- 
sionally, never relinquishing, while any strength remains, the sa- 
cred office to which I have been dedicated. 

" You will easily conceive my embarrassing situation, with a 
young and numerous family ; and will feel that tenderness which 
our holy religion inspires, especially after serving together for 
above eighteen years, in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I write 
with pain. I have delayed this business, though often revolved 
in my mind. Very lately has my determination been taken, and 
this is the reason why it has not been sooner communicated to 
you. The Consistory meet on Thursday next, and on the Thurs- 
day following. If any thing be done, it cannot be delayed on ac- 
count of necessary arrangements. To the will of God, I hope, 
ever to be resigned. The Divine Master who has employed me, 
and been gracious to me, will provide for me. May you enjoy 
much of his comfortable presence, and richly share in the bless- 
ings of the everlasting covenant. Pray for me. 

" I am, my dear colleague, with the highest respect and affec- 
tion, your friend and brother, 

« WILLIAM LINN." 

Dr. Livingston laid the proposition of his friend before the 
Consistory. 



•372 



NEW-YORK. 



those of his two younger estimable colleagues ; but 
they were, nevertheless, sufficiently multiplied and 
difficult of accomplishment for one of his years 



The Consistory acted upon the occasion with their wonted 
liberality ; and as soon as the spring opened, Dr. Linn removed 
his family to Albany, where he spent the remainder of his life. 

Dr. Linn was a divine of great celebrity. His preaching was 
uniformly judicious, evangelical, and impressive ; but upon par- 
ticular occasions, his performances were master-pieces of the 
kind. — The interest he took in the party politics of the day, some- 
what impaired his popularity towards the close of his ministry, but 
he still had many warm and excellent friends in the congregation. 
— When he died, the late Dr. J. B. Romeyn, then a minister in 
Albany, wrote to Dr. Livingston, to inform him of the event, and 
the receipt of his letter was thus acknowledged — 

" New- York, January 13th, 180S. 
" Reverend and dear Sir, 

" This moment your friendly communication is handed to 
me, and I sit down immediately to thank you for your kind atten- 
tion. The near connection which has for many years subsisted 
between Dr. Linn and myself, and the sincere love I cherished 
for him, from the first day of our acquaintance, render the event 
you have announced very affecting. Your remarks respecting 
ministers of the Gospel are just and pious. If such improvements 
apply to others in younger life, how much more must I feel their 
force who am several years older than our deceased friend ! 
When your worthy father departed, I felt myself deprived of the 
dear companions of my youth. Now, in regard to them, I stand 
alone. I mark the signal, hear the warning voice, and look unto 
Jesus." 



NEW-YORK, 



373 



and constitutional debility ; and, in referring to his 
services at this period, those ought at least to be 
cursorily noticed which were extra-parochial, for 
they were not few in number. He was frequently in- 
vited to preach, and when disengaged and in health, 
he frequently did preach, in neighbouring Dutch 
churches j and upon particular occasions, as the lay- 
ing of the corner-stone of a new church, or the opening 
of a new church, for the first time, for public wor- 
ship, it was in a manner considered his prerogative 
to officiate. For a series of years, when either the 
one or the other was to be done in any part of the 
city, or in any place at a moderate distance 
from it, he was requested, in deference to 
his prominence and seniority in the ministry, to 
perform the service. And it may be questioned, 
whether any contemporary clergyman in the 
United States, except a diocesan, had the honour 
of laying more corner stones of churches, or of 
opening a greater number of buildings erected for 
the public worship of God, than Doctor Living- 



" This is, as you observe, an afflicting providence on many ac- 
counts, and cannot fail of being especially so to his bereaved, dis- 
tressed family. 

" With assurances of my respect and love, 
" Dear Sir, your most affectionate, 

" J. H. LIVINGSTON. 

i£ Rev. Mr. Romeyn." 



374 



NEW-YORK. 



ston. Within the period embraced in this chapter, 
it is believed, that he discharged one or both of 
these offices in Flatbush and Brooklyn, Long- 
Island ; in Belleville and * * * * * * New-Jersey ; 
in Greenwich and Bloomingdale, when the first 
churches were erected in these places ; in Garden- 
Street, at the erection of the new building upon the 
site of the old one ; in Franklin- Street and Broom- 
Street, in the city of New- York.* 

The Doctor was by no means an indifferent ob- 
server of the events in the world, which, at that day, 
attracted the notice of all intelligent Christians. — 
He saw distinctly the commencement of a new and 
glorious epoch in the history of the church ; and 
he took a deep interest in the benevolent and pious 
efforts which then began to be made in New- York, 
as well as in most other parts of Protestant Chris- 
tendom, to extend the kingdom of the Redeemer. 

* The Doctor being the sole pastor at the time, without doubt, 
opened the North Church, when it was repaired after the war, 
He also opened the Middle Dutch Church, when that building was 
put in a state to be used for public worship, and the sermon he 
preached upon this occasion, was afterwards published. After 
his removal from New- York, if the writer hns been correctly in- 
formed, he laid the corner stone of a new Dutch Church in a 
place called Spotswood, near New Brunswick, and of one in New 
Brunswick. In the last mentioned, he also preached the intro- 
ductory sermon. 



NEW-YORK. 



375 



Before the New- York Missionary Society, at 
annual meetings, he preached two sermons, which 
being afterwards published — one of them in a se- 
cond edition — it is presumed have been generally 
read, and must be acknowledged to exhibit not only 
sound and enlarged views upon the subjects dis- 
cussed in them, but also, a fervent zeal for the in- 
crease and success of Missionary operations. The 
first was preached April the 23d, 1799, on Colos- 
sians 3 and xi — " Christ is all and in all:" the second 
April 3d, 1804, on Rev. 14, 6—7. "And I saw 
another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the 
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell 
on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and 
tongue, and people, saying, with a loud voice, Fear 
God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his 
judgment is come, and worship him that made hea- 
ven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of 
waters." 

In 1807, the Trustees of Queen's College, 
having resolved to revive the institution under their 
care, made a communication to that effect to the 
General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, 
and solicited their approbation of the measure. 
The Synod cordially approved of what had been 
done, in relation to the same communication, by the 
particular Synod of New- York, — to which body it 



376 



3EW-Y0RK. 



had previously been made, and appointed a Com- 
mittee to confer with the Committee of the Trustees 
who were then present, upon the subject. — The 
result of the conference was, the formation of a co- 
venant between the Synod and the Trustees, for the 
union of the Professorate with the College, the 
fourth and fifth articles of which were in these 
words : 

" The Trustees of Queen's College shall call no 
professor of theology, but such as shallbe nominated 
and chosen by the General Synod, agreeably to 
the resolutions and arrangements formed in Ge- 
neral Synod in 1804, respecting the permament pro- 
fessorship, which is hereby located at New-Bruns- 
wick" 

"As soon as the Trustees shall have obtained a 
fund, the interest of which will yield a competent 
support to the theological professor, of which com- 
petency, whenever any difficulties or doubts may 
arise, the contracting parties shall judge and deter- 
mine, the Trustees shall be bound, without delay, 
to call the professor appointed by the Synod ; and 
the Synod shall, and hereby do request their pro- 
fessor, as soon as he shall have received such a call, 
to make arrangements forthwith for entering upon 
the duties of his office." 



NEW-YORK* 



611 



An interesting and able address upon the subject 
of the theological professorate was now drawn up. 
published, and widely circulated ; and, under the 
divine blessing, it excited in many parts of the 
Church, great zeal and liberality in behalf of the 
important object contemplated. In the city of 
New- York alone, subscriptions to the professoral 
fund, to the amount of more than ten thousand dol- 
lars, were obtained in a few days ; and encouraged 
by this auspicious beginning, the Trustees forth- 
with made a call upon the Doctor to the professor- 
ship of theology, in the institution, tendering him 
therein, as the yearly compensation for his services, 
the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars. They 
also made a call upon him to the presidency of the 
College, in which the salary offered was two hun- 
dred and fifty dollars per annum. 

The first call he accepted ; but fearing that if he 
immediately removed, the efforts of the Churches 
to provide an adequate fund for the support of the 
professorate, would abate, he concluded to remain 
for the present where he was. 

About this time, he experienced an increase of 
infirmities, which was quite alarming. His mind as 
well as his body, in a measure failed him, and he 

was sensible that he was not able to discharge, as 

48 



378 



NEW-YORK. 



he formerly had done, his customary ministerial 
duties. The decline of his health became, indeed, so 
visible, that the Consistory of the Church consi- 
dered it their duty to excuse him from a part of his 
regular ministrations ; and they accordingly passed 
the following resolution, a copy of which they 
directed to be delivered to him : 

" In Consistory, 20th July, 1809. 
" The Consistory taking into consideration the 
long and faithful services of the Rev. Doctor 
Livingston, their senior minister ; and also consi- 
dering his age, the ill state of his health, and his 
consequent inability to preach more than once on 
the Sabbath ; — therefore resolved unanimously, 
that this Consistory are willing to dispense with the 
afternoon public services of the Reverend Doctor 
Livingston, on the Sabbath, and that he preach 
every Sabbath morning only, unless he feels able 
and disposed to perform more service. Ordered ? 
that the- Rev. Mr. Kuypers, the President, be re- 
quested to deliver a copy of this resolution to the 
Rev. Doctor Livingston. 

" Extract from the Minutes, 

"ISAAC L. KIP, Sec." 

As the Doctor was now exempted from a portion 
of his usual labours, and his removal to New- 



NEW-YORK. 



379 



Brunswick was expected to take place at a day, 
not far distant, the Consistory deemed it expedient 
to obtain as speedily as possible, a more ample sup- 
ply of ministerial service. They soon after, there- 
fore, invited the Rev. John Schureman, of Millstone, 
N. J., and the Rev. Jacob Brodhead, of Rhine- 
beck, N. Y., to come and serve them in the Gospel. 
These gentlemen accepted their calls, and were in- 
stalled collegiate pastors with Dr. Livingston, Dr. 
Kuypers, and Dr. Abeel, in the autumn of this 
vear. 



CHAPTER HL 



FKOM HIS REMOVAL TO NEW-BRUNSWICK, UNTIL 
HIS DEATH AND BURIAL. 

4 6 There is something singularly affecting" says 
an elegant writer,* speaking of Abraham's depar- 
ture, at the seventy-fifth year of his age, from his 
country and kindred, and father's house, to go un- 
to a land which God had promised to show him, — 
" in the idea of an old man giving up the scenes of 
his youthful days ; scenes endeared to the mind by 
the fond recollection of past joys ; foregoing his 
kindred and friends ; and becoming an exile and 
a w anderer, at a period when nature seeks repose, 
and when the heart cleaves to those objects to 
w hich it has been long accustomed. But that man 
goes on cheerfully, who knows he is following God ; 
he can never remove far from home, who has made 
the Most High his habitation ; he w ho falls asleep in 
the bosom of a father, knows that he shall awake 
in perfect peace and safety." 

This passage has not been quoted, with a view 
to compare the subject of these memoirs to the ve- 



*Dr. Hunter. 



1NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



381 



nerable patriarch of old, or because it is supposed 
that the removal of the one, in its attending circum- 
stances, bears much of a resemblance to that of the 
other ; but simply for the purpose of observing, that 
the affecting impression, which such a removal as it 
describes is represe nted to make upon the mind of 
a reflecting person, must be in a degree produced 
by every other that is so far similar as to combine 
the two circumtances of advanced age, and pre- 
eminent piety, or that takes place at a late period 
of life, from a desire to obey what is believed to be 
the divine will, and to promote the glory of God* 
There is, indeed, a moral grandeur in the fact, which 
cannot fail to excite mingled emotions of admira- 
tion, veneration, and love, in all who witness it, of a 
man who is bending under the weight of years, and 
tottering apparently upon the verge of the grave, 
bidding farewell to objects long and tenderly 
laved, and departing to a new place of residence, 
there to begin, in a manner, life over again, pure- 
ly out of a sense of duty to the Master whom he 
serves. Such a fact evinces too plainly, to admit 
of their being questioned, the power of faith, and the 
love of Christ ; and the individual in whom grace 
has this ascendant, constraining influence, must be 
regarded with affectionate respect, as an eminent 
follower of Abraham, and all them who through faith 
and patience inherit the promises. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



Doctor Livingston had almost reached three 
score and ten years, when he concluded to resign 
his charge, and remove to New Brunswick : — and 
the writer has often remembered a remark, which 
the good old father made in reference to his expect- 
ed departure, a few T days before he left the city : 
"I feel it, my son," said he, " to be a species of mar- 
tyrdom." — The representation of a removal to a 
distance of fifty miles, into a polished, intelligent, 
and pious society, as a kind of martyrdom, it is con- 
fessed, was received at the moment as savouring of 
dotage ; but upon a little reflection, the amount of 
sacrifice involved in a separation from a people, 
among whom he had lived as a minister of the Gos- 
pel, in great esteem and usefulness, for about forty 
years, and might still live, if he could reconcile it 
with his sense of duty to do so, loved and honoured 
to the last, appeared fully to justify it. And the 
separation being sought in obedience to the voice 
of the church, and solely for the good of the church, 
when his attachments and other considerations ren- 
dered a continuance in his present situation far pre- 
ferable, showed a self-denial, a disinterestedness, 
and a piety, which it was impossible not to admire. 

In February, 1810, the Trustees of Queen's 
College, having obtained more subscriptions to. the 
professora! fund, passed a resolution to increase 
the sum which they had previously offered, by the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



addition of six hundred and fifty dollars, making 
the salary now tendered him as professor, fourteen 
hundred dollars. A copy of this resolution was 
sent to him without delay, accompanied with another 
call to the presidency of the College ; and in 
March, he wrote to the Trustees, "that notwith- 
standing the interest arising from the principal in 
their hands, was not yet sufficient to produce a com- 
petent and honourable salary ; yet the importance 
of the institution, and the necessity of organizing it 
without delay, were so impressive, that he would 
not hesitate to comply with the calls of the church- 
es, being fully persuaded that when he made such 
large and painful sacrifices for the public, he would 
most assuredly not be neglected or forsaken by 
them." 

Shortly after, he communicated to the Consistory 
of the Church, in a letter, the reasons which had in- 
duced his determination to remove ; and this letter, 
leaving out a brief history of the professorate, up to 
the time when it was agreed to unite the same with 
Queen's College, was as follows : "The united 
voice of all the churches fixed the professorship at 
Brunswick, with a request, and even peremptory 
resolution, that their professor should remove to 
that place, as soon as the funds to be raised should 
prove competent to his support. A generous zeal 



384 



NEW-BRt/NSWICK. 



was immediately shown by many individual meni* 
bers of the churches* in subscribing liberally for that 
purpose ; and had it not been for our national dis- 
tresses, which at that critical moment rendered it 
improper to proceed with the subscriptions, there 
is no doubt a sufficiency would have been soon ob- 
tained. Two years have elapsed, and the object is 
not yet accomplished. It is acknowledged that the 
funds collected are not adequate to the honourable 
support of the professor, that they do not correspond 
with the wishes and character of the churehes ; and 
are, as yet, vastly inferior to any other public esta- 
blishment ; but it is suggested, and probably with 
great truth, that all further application for an in- 
crease of the funds, and even for obtaining a great 
part of what is already subscribed, depend upon 
the immediate removal of the professor to Bruns- 
wick. After waiting so long, despondency has ari- 
sen, and fears are indulged, that notwithstanding all 
the exertions which have been made, the whole in- 
stitution, if he refuses, will at last fail, or be again 
broken into separate interests. Hence the requests 
are pressing, the demands increase, and the public 
voice becomes clamorous.' 5 

" The professor has laboured twenty-six years 
without any compensation ; and he may now be 
justified in the expectation of having his situation 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



385 



at last rendered comfortable and equitable. He can- 
not therefore, it may be supposed, reconcile it with 
prudence or justice to himself, to engage in new 
and precarious dependencies, and expose himself 
to losses and troubles, which the public have no 
right to expect or demand from an individual. 
But these remonstrances must yield to the author- 
itative directions of Divine Providence; and correct 
views of the important crisis, in which the interests 
of our Churches are brought, seem to suppress all 
personal considerations, silence all minor objections, 
and imperiously require an immediate sacrifice. I 
judged it proper to draw these outlines of our his- 
tory, that you might at one glance have the whole 
subject before you." 

" And now, my dear brethren, what conclusion 
do you draw ? I make no appeal to the feelings 
which your affections dictate. I know your love ; 
a love that has been ripening, without any interrup- 
tion, nearly half a century ; a love which, if con- 
sulting its own claims, would never consent to a 
separation while life remains. But I appeal to 
your judgments; I appeal to your zeal for the 
highest interests of Zion ; to your attachment to 
the Reformed Dutch Church in our land ; and to 
the obligation we are under to assist in promoting 

a cause, to which consequences of such immense 

49 



:3S6 



NEW-BRUNSWICK, 



magnitude are evidently attached. I introduce 
this appeal, to prepare your minds for the commu- 
nication I am now compelled to make." 

" My deal- brethren, after many struggles and 
great reluctance, I am at length conquered. I am 
persuaded to yield to the direction and call of the 
Churches represented in General Synod, who has 
a right to command the services of her members 
and officers ; and I believe, therefore, that it is the 
will of our Lord and Master, who speaks by his 
Church, that I should remove to New-Brunswick, 
and there devote the short remnant of my days to 
the direct duties and objects of the theological 
professorship, and without delay, I let you know 
the result. Letitnot offend any zealous believer to 
hear a Christian speak of struggles and reluctance, 
since self-denial and cheerful acquiescence ought 
always to be forward, and predominate. It is so ; 
yet the infirmities of human nature claim some in- 
dulgence, as far as they may be considered to be 
free from sin. It is not always an easy task to 
ascertain the will of the Lord, with respect to pro- 
vidential events, especially when a train of difficul- 
ties has long continued to interrupt the accomplish- 
ment of any great object. The immediate welfare 
of our congregation was always uppermost upon 
my heart, and I could never feel a freedom to 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



387 



leave it, while my presence was judged necessary 
to its peace and prosperity. But, after a deliberate 
and disinterested view of existing facts, that criti- 
cal state appears to be now essentially changed. 
The Lord has blessed us with sufficient and accept- 
able help ; and, if it may please him to hear the 
fervent prayers of his people, we may indulge the 
hope, that our beloved minister, who has for some 
time been much indisposed, may again have his 
precious health restored, and be able, at Least, in 
some measure, to edify the Church with his labours, 
his counsel, and experience."* 



* The " beloved minister" to whom the Doctor referred, was 
the Rev. Dr. John N. Abeel, who was at the time, as but too 
soon after became evident to all his friends, consumptively dis- 
eased. He lingered about two years, and then finished his earthly 
course. — Dr. Abeel was a native of the city of New-York. Ha- 
ving made sufficient progress in preparatory studies, at a school 
in Morristown, N. J. he entered Princeton College ; — and his 
course in this institution completed, he commenced the study of 
law in New Brunswick, under the late Judge Patterson. — In the 
office of this gentleman he remained about a year, when, being 
made experimentally acquainted with the power of divine grace, 
he left it, and put himself under the care of Dr. Livingston, to 
study theology. Shortly after, receiving the appointment of a 
tutor of Princeton College, he repaired thither, and while engaged 
in the duties of this station, prosecuted and finished his prepara- 
tions for the ministry, under the celebrated Dr. Witherspoon. He 
was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Classis of New- York, 
in the month of April, 1793. His first settlement was in the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



When to this state of things, I add the full dis- 
covery that my advanced years have rendered it 
impossible for me to fulfil, as I ought and wish, any 
longer the duties of the ministry, the objection, 
which of all others has always been the highest, and 
indeed the only one, is quite removed, and I am 
compelled to conclude that it has now become my 
duty, without longer delay, cheerfully and thank- 
fully to apply to the sole and immediate labours of 
the professorate ; for which, considering previous 
preparations, and long habits, I may humbly hope, 
with the divine aid, a competent degree of vigour 
and strength may yet remain." 

To this communication, the Consistory returned 



Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, as a colleague with 
the Rev. Dr. Green ; but in the fall of 1795, he accepted a call 
from the church of New-York, and removed to this city, where he 
laboured in th^ Gospel, until the commencement of the disease 
which terminated in his death. He died in January, 1812, in the 
forty-third year of his age. — This eminent servant of Christ was, 
indeed, a " beloved minister." His eloquence in the pulpit, mild, 
interesting, and persuasive, in an uncommon degree ; his amiable 
disposition and unassuming manners ; his affable and instructive 
conversation ; his unaffected piety ; his fervent zeal, greatly endear- 
ed him to the people of his charge, and to the church at large. 
Many precious souls/eceived the grace of God under his faithful 
preaching, who will be his glory and his joy in the presence of the 
Lord Je6us Christ ; — and his great and successful exertions in 
fcehaif of the theological school, ought never to be forgotten. 



JSEW-BRUNSWICK. 



389 



an answer by the hands of three of their respected 
members, expressive of the affection they felt for 
their venerable pastor, and of their regret at part- 
ing with him. The reader would, no doubt, like 
to see the whole of this answer, but as it is long, the 
insertion of two or three parts will be sufficient to 
show what were their sentiments and feelings upon 
the occasion. 

" Reverend and very dear Father 
and Brother in the Lord : 
"The Consistory of the Reformed Dutch 
Church in this city, which has so long enjoyed the 
blessing of your ministry, has, with deep and un- 
feigned regret, received the tidings of your inten- 
tion soon to transfer your labours to another quar- 
ter of the Lord's vineyard ; though they rejoice to 
find you are to be employed during the remnant of 
your days, in the honourable and necessary duties 
of the theological professorate." 

" While they cannot but approve the measures 
taken by the Reverend Synod, for providing an effi- 
cient and learned ministry, to supply the wants of the 
churches under their c are ; while they adore the 
goodness of the Lord, in thus far prospering their 
endeavours ; and admire the disinterestedness and 
steady perseverance displayed throughout the 



390 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



whole of your conduct in the promotion of this laud- 
able work, they cannot be unaffected by the loss 
they must sustain by your departure : they feel, — 
they deeply feel, the expected separation ; — a sepa- 
ration that tears asunder the finest, the tenderest 
cords that bind the heart." 

" Many, Reverend Sir, still look up to you as 
their spiritual father ; and all revere you, as under 
Christ, their solace in distress and in difficulties ; 
their support in the hour of trial ; and the endeared 
tie, that has so long preserved in harmony the va- 
rious and sometimes conflicting interests and pas- 
sions, that necessarily arise in an extensive congre- 
gation, composed of so many distinct members of 
different ages, characters, and circumstances, and 
influenced by views and motives often irreconcile- 
able — sometimes opposite." 

" A gracious Lord has mercifully continued your 
labours among this people for forty years. They 
have been blesse d in the conversion of sinners, and 
edification of the saints. You have been the instru- 
ment of peace, and the healer of breaches in the 
church." 

# * * # 

"The prospect of your future usefulness to the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK, 



391 



Church of God, in an employment which requires 
the full exercise of distinguished and matured 
talents, without great exertions of bodily powers, 
in some measure satisfies and consoles the mind, 
thoughit contributes little to the abatement of grief." 

# # # #. 

" We commit you, and your amiable consort, to 
the superintending care and gracious protection of 
a God, infinite in mercy and love." 

# # # * 

" With sentiments of unfeigned respect, ardent 
affection, and unabated zeal for your happiness 
here and hereafter — 

" We subscribe ourselves, your sincere friends* 
brothers and children in the Lord. 

" Signed by order, and on behalf of Consistory, 
"JACOB BRODHEAD, Pres. pro. tern, 
"Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston. 
" New-York, 25th June, 1810." 

On the tenth of October following, the Doctor 
removed to New-Brunswick ; and his arrival there 
was greeted as an event of most favourable augury, 
ensuring success to the whole plan that had been 
formed in relation to the college and the professor 



892 



NEW-BRUNSWICK* 



ate, the long wished for union between which was 
now completed. — Soon after his arrival, he wrote a 
few lines to his friend, Isaac L. Kip, Esq. of New- 
York, which begin thus : " Many cares and arrange- 
ments, inseparable from a new habitation, have en- 
grossed my attention since I came to this place, and 
prevented me fr3m dropping a line to you. The 
new part of my dwelling is yet under the hands of 
the carpenters, and the old requires much altera- 
tion and amendments, to render it comfortable for 
the approaching winter. But, in the midst of all 
these, I am kept through grace, in some measure 
near the Lord, and live by faith. I have made sa- 
crifices to promote his cause, and he hath said, he 
will not leave nor forsake me. Upon his word of 
truth, I confidently rely, and desire to feel reconciled 
to the cross of Christ. His grace will be sufficient, 
for he is the Lord my righteousness, my strength, 
my help and shield. Amidst all my cares, and in 
the multitude of my thoughts, I still remember most 
affectionately, the whole flock and my faithful 
friends. My prayers are for them, and I am con- 
fident they cannot forget to remember me and mine 
continually before the throne." 

It is not generally known, perhaps, that in order 
to provide a suitable residence for his family, the 
Doctor had to involve himself in a debt, which for a 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



393 



time caused him considerable disquietude, but such 
was the fact. He was under the necessity of pur- 
chasing the place that was now undergoing repairs 
and alterations, to put it in a comfortable state ; and, 
to pay for it, he had depended upon the sale of 
some property he had in New-York. More than 
a year elapsed, however, before he could effect a 
satisfactory sale of this property, and meanwhile, 
his situation, on account of his debt and prospect of 
support, was an anxious and very unpleasant one 9 
as will appear by an extract from another letter to 
the same individual: 66 1 said the sale of my place 
would be considered as a merciful providence, be- 
cause I wish much to dispose of that property. I 
wish it, because I have made a purchase here, for 
the discharge of which I depended wholly upon the 
sale of my place there. I was convinced, and I 
still am, that it was my duty to come here. Events, 
of the highest magnitude to the prosperity of our 
churches, appeared to depend upon my coming. It 
was high time for me to decide and to remove. My 
refusal or delay might have rendered all abortive, — 
I found there was no habitation for me to be obtain- 
ed here, excepting that which I purchased. I knew 
also the public funds for my support, after I was 
here, were not yet ascertained. Notwithstanding- 
all this, which to the eye of prudence was forbid- 
ding, I yet ventured, as I trust, in the obedience 

50 



394 



JSEW-BRUNSWICK. 



of faith, and risked all the consequences to promote 
this work of the Lord. You will easily conceive 
now, that if by the sale of my place, I might be 
able to discharge the burthen that has accrued, 
and especially, if something might remain for a 
support upon which I could depend, it would in- 
deed be a merciful providence. While I work for 
the churches, I am willing to maintain myself, if I 
can. Zion is welcome to my labours. To Zion 
and to Zion's Lord, I cheerfully consecrate all I am 
and have. My other property is not immediately 
productive * * *. In this situation, while, for the 
trial of my faith and hope no doubt, it pleases the 
Lord to disappoint me hitherto in the sale of my 
place, which is my only present resource, you can 
readily conceive that, at times, I feel as if I was left 
alone."* 

Queen's College being revived, agreeably to the 
resolution of the Trustees, which was communi- 
cated to the Synod in 1807, under the auspices of 
the Rev. Dr. Condict, as its vice-president — at the 



* In two years, the Doctor did not receive the whole amount 
of salary due him for one ; $1200 being all that the funds in 
hand had produced during that period ; so that his fears in rela- 
tion to a support, as he was situated the first year, were not alto- 
ge&er groundless, or at least it is not to be wondered at, that he 
felt and expressed some little anxiety on that account. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK* 



395 



commencement of the exercises of this institution, 
in the autumn of this year, the Doctor entered 
upon the discharge of his official duties, as presi- 
dent of the same, and as professor of theology. 
But it ought to be observed, that in the capacity of 
president, it was not expected he would render 
much active service : no more was required of 
him, in fact, by his call to the office, than that he 
should " preside at commencements and authenti- 
cate diplomatic documents, and take a general 
superintendence of the institution, as far as his 
time and health might admit." — Giving instruction 
in theology was the department to which he was 
chiefly to devote himself : this belonged exclusive- 
ly to him, and he engaged in it with all his heart. 

At first, he had only five students to attend his 
lectures ; but the next year, the number increased 
to nine, and in 1812, when he made his first official 
communication to General Synod, the committee 
who reported upon the subject of the professorate, 
made the following statement. " Since the removal 
of the professor, he has opened the theological 
school, and the number of students has so increased, 
as to afford a hopeful prospect that this institution will 
be of extensive and permanent usefulness to the 
Church." This statement is introduced by a reflec- 
tion or two, expressed in these words i " When your 



396 



JfEW-BRUNSWICK. 



committee reflect on the zeal of the professor, thus 
to promote the best interests of the Churches, — his 
leaving a people endeared to him by a useful mi- 
nistry of forty years — removing from a place, where 
numerous connexions had been formed, and an am- 
ple support was secured ; when they reflect on his 
entering on a new and arduous scene, at such sacri- 
fices, in his advanced period of life ; the committee 
hesitate not to express the high and grateful sense 
they entertain of the conduct of the professor, and 
feel confident their sentiments are in unison with 
those of the Churches generally." 

The Doctor, impressed with the propriety of re- 
ligious exercises at funerals, and wishing to pro- 
mote their prevalence in the Church, had prepar- 
ed with some care, and published a work upon the 
subject, entitled " A Funeral Service ; or, Medita- 
tions adapted to Funeral Addresses." — This little 
manual, which the venerable author had compiled 
altogether from the oracles of God, and judiciously- 
arranged, was now respectfully noticed by the 
General Synod ; and among other things, to regulate 
the practice of ministers at burials, it w as resolved, 
" That as a funeral service has lately been prepared 
and published by Professor Livingston, which com- 
prehends all the general subjects proper to be in- 
troduced at funerals, and is a treasure of excellent 



% 

NEW-BRUNSWICK. 397 

meditations, and worthy of all acceptation, because 
entirely selected from the sacred Scriptures ; there- 
fore, the General Synod recommend the same to 
all the ministers belonging to their jurisdiction, to 
be used by them agreeably to the mode therein 
suggested." 

When the obsequies of the dead are solemnized, 
an opportunity is offered to speak a word which, 
to some precious souls may, under the divine bless- 
ing, be a word in season ; and the writer, though 
he is no advocate for a regular sermon upon every 
such occasion, begs leave to express his own con- 
viction that the opportunity ought not, except for 
a good reason, to be allowed to pass without some 
attempt to improve it, for the benefit of mourners 
and others present. Much good, in the providence 
of God, may follow a brief address or short prayer, 
delivered either at the house of mourning, or at the 
grave; and for such exercises, this work of the 
Doctor, supposing it be not used in the manner re- 
commended, contains an assemblage of appropri- 
ate Scripture sentences, which it will be found pro- 
fitable to consult. 

The Synod, at this session, committed to him 
the performance of a task of great importance and 
responsibility. In the opinion of many pious and 
intelligent persons, the Book of Psalms and Hymns 



BBS NEW-BRUNSWICK. 

then in use in the Dutch Church, needed revision 
and enlargement ; and the subject having been re- 
ferred to the Synod, they requested the professor 
to endeavour to make a selection, that would give 
general satisfaction, and appointed a committee to 
inspect the same, when it should be completed. 
He cheerfully yielded to the request, and soon 
after prepared a selection, which received the ap- 
probation of the Committee and the next Synod; 
and proved highly acceptable to the Churches. 

The execution of this task cost him much 
labour : he took pains to render it as correct and 
perfect as possible ; and the resolution of the 
Synod, which declared their sense of the service 
he had done, was a merited, and, no doubt, a grati- 
fying return. " Resolved, that for the ability dis- 
played in the revision of Psalms and, Hymns, in use 
in our Churches, and for the labour and diligence 
with which that business has been finally accom- 
plished, Professor Livingston is entitled to the 
gratitude and affectionate remembrance of the 
members of the Dutch Church, and all the friends 
of Zion ; and that this Synod entertain, and will 
continue to entertain, a high sense of the faithful 
and affectionate labours of their aged brother, for 
the advancement of the interests of our Church ; 
and that they will ever pray that when he shall be 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



399 



gathered with his fathers, he may join in the song 
of Moses and the Lamb." 

In compliance with the wish of the Synod, he 
superintended the first edition of the work ; and 
the following letter to his friend in New- York, will 
show the solicitude he felt to please m the dis- 
charge of this obligation : 

" New-Brunswick, Nov. 13th, 1813. 

"My dear Sir, 

" The Commercial Advertiser has rectified 
his error, agreeably to your application ; and I 
thank you for your kind attention to my request, 
without which it would not have been effected. 
Our friend, George, has been with me ; and the 
whole arrangement is settled to his entire satisfac- 
tion, I hope it will prove beneficial to him, and I 
am confident he will make a correct edition. I am 
only afraid the printers will not employ as fine a 
paper as I wish. Paper is very dear, and is an 
article that enters deeply in their calculations ; 
but much of the respectability and beauty of the 
first edition, which ought to recommend itself to 
the public, not only by its intrinsic value, but its 
external neatness and splendour, will depend upon 
the paper on which it is printed. Mr. F — has not 
showed me the paper he means to use, but has 



400 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



promised that it shall be very white and good, and 
I depend upon his promise. 

" I am happy that the plan I recommended to 
the Synod, to assess each book at 6 cents was adopt- 
ed ; it is the surest and most productive to answer 
the benevolent purpose, to obtain which I am wil- 
ling to bestow my labour and toil." 

" When I gave you the title-page, it occurred to 
me, that an appropriate text from the Scriptures, 
would be an excellent motto to dignify the page, 
and might serve a good purpose to admonish every 
individual, who would certainly read it ; but the 
thought or rather the thing escaped me. If our 
committee have not already published the copy- 
right, I refer it to you and them, whether, under 
[the] name, where mottos are usually placed, it 
would not be eligible to add — 'Let the word of 
Christ dwell in you richl) in all wisdom, teaching 
and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns 
and Spiritual Songs, singing with grace in your 
hearts unto the Lord.' Coloss. 3. 16. If the pub- 
lication of the copyright be already made, it will 
be too late to make this addition." 

* * * * 

" Your faithful friend and servant, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON. 
"I. L. Kip, Esq." 



HJEW-BRUNSWIOK. 



401 



In the course of the past year, the Vice-Presi- 
dent of the College, the pious, loved, and honour- 
ed Condict, was suddenly, after a short but severe 
illness, removed to another and better world : — a 
mournful dispensation of Divine Providence, which 
bereaved the Church of New-Brunswick of an ex- 
cellent pastor, whose faithful ministrations it had en- 
joyed for several years, and the College of an offi- 
cer, under whose able and faithful superintendence, 
this Institution had already acquired considerable 
reputation. The death of this good man was soon 
followed by that of his son, a youth of great pro- 
mise, who had been an instructer in the College ; 
and a few weeks after, another youth, a graduate 
of the Institution, admired for his amiable disposi- 
tion, ardent piety, and brilliant talents, was laid 
in the grave. 

The Doctor, with many others, was deeply af- 
fected by these events, well knowing the loss which 
the Church and the College had sustained : and, 
in closing his address at the Commencement of the 
same year, he took a short but pathetic notice of 
them, to enforce the sage and affectionate counsels, 
which he had considered it his duty to impart, 
upon the occasion to the candidates for the Bac- 
calaureate. 

This address was altogether worthy of its vener- 
51 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



able author — plain, sententious, pious, paternal — 
but the part which included the reference mention- 
ed, on account of this reference, particularly merits 
some attention. 

After an appropriate proem, the worthy Presi- 
dent arranged and condensed the advice he had to 
give, under the two following particulars : — 1. 
4 1 You are devoted to study and literature ; you 
must, then, love science, and be diligent in the inves- 
tigation of truth. 2. You are, above all, related to 
your God, as his intelligent creatures, and to the 
Divine Redeemer, as lost sinners, to be saved by 
him ; you must love and experience his religion." 

Having expatiated upon these points, he then 
added, " Are these the counsels of old age ? Are 
these exercises suited to advanced years ? Yes, and 
they are equally applicable to the young and the 
gay, to the strong and blooming. Ah ! boast not 
of to-morrow. You know not what a day may bring 
forth. How many painful examples — how many 
severe warnings, continually solicit our attention, 
and exclaim louder than thunder, Be ye also 
ready. Where is young Van Dike ? Last year he 
stood as you now stand. I had pressed his hand 
and blessed him, when I admitted him to the rank 
to which you are now raised, and he bid fair to live 



NEW-BKUNSWiCK. 



403 



and enjoy the honours to which he had the fairest 
claim. His early attention to reading, and his dili- 
gent studies, had advanced him to notice. The 
mildness of his manners, his benevolent temper, and 
amiable disposition, recommended him to univer- 
sal esteem and respect, and he was still more en- 
deared for having devoted himself to the ministry 9 
and intending immediately to commence in the 
study of theology. But where is our dear young Van 
Dike ? Yonder in the cold grave. His dust has re- 
turned to dust. Within a few weeks after he had 
delighted this audience with a display of his talents, 
while he was preparing to enter upon the arduous 
work in which his pious heart was wholly engaged^ 
he was seized with a fatal fever, which soon num- 
bered him among the dead." 

"Yonder the affectionate youth was interred, near 
to his former friend, the excellent young Condict, 
who had entered into the world of spirits a few 
weeks before. He, too, was an only son, from whose 
talents and piety great usefulness was expected. 
Ah ! death often loves a lofty aim. By two sudden 
strokes, two youths, towering as the cedar, under 
whose shade repose and safety had been anticipa- 
ted, were in a moment brought down. There they 
lie— -they lie near the consecrated spot, where the 
remains of the venerable parent, Condict, rest, 



404 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



Such a father, and such a son ! and they so quickly 
followed by such a youth ! O Death !" 

" Feel, my dear young gentlemen, as you ought 
to feel, when I direct your views to the tombs* 
Yet a little while, and we shall all be numbered 
with the mighty dead. The aged and the young — 
the lips which now speak these tender and affect- 
ing truths, and you who so attentively hear, will 
soon speak and hear no more after the manner of 
mortals. O, then, be wise for eternity. Let true, 
vital, and experimental religion, be your first, your 
chief concern. Be faithful : improve your talents, 
and occupy until the Master comes. Live in the 
Lord, and you shall be blessed when you die in 
the Lord. Live the life of the righteous, and your 
latter end shall be like his. Go now under these 
impressions. Feel their power, and indulge their 
influence. We take leave of you with emotions of 
tender affection, and part with reluctance. We 
ardently commit you, dear young gentlemen, to 
the blessing of the God of Salvation. Farewell." 

In 1813, the Rev. Mr. (afterwards Doctor) John 
Schureman, of New- York, was called to succeed to 
Dr. Condict in the College. The call was accept- 
ed ; but the College had so greatly declined, and 
there were so many unfavourable circumstances at 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



405 



the time militating against it, that the estimable 
character of the new Vice-President, and the abili- 
ty and zeal with which he entered upon and dis- 
charged his duties, could not avail to restore it to 
its former prosperous state : the aggregate num- 
ber of students continued still to diminish. And it 
ought to be farther stated, that the Rev. John M. 
Van Harlingen,* the professor of Hebrew, and 
teacher of Ecclesiastical History in the theologi- 
cal school, departed this life about the same time ; 
and "in this event, the Institution sustained, 5 ' as 
was observed by the Committee, who noticed it in 
their report upon the professorate, " a serious de- 
privation" — So many events of an adverse nature, 
and so quickly following each other, in their com- 
bined influence, produced, as it was very natur- 
al they should, among some of the friends of the 
professorate, an impression that God in his provi- 
dence, was frowning upon the plan which Synod 
had adopted for promoting the Institution. 

A number of worthy members of the Church, resid- 



* It is regretted that no materials have been furnished for bio- 
graphical sketches of Mr. Van Harlingen, Dr. Condict, and some 
other worthies, whose names are mentioned in the course of the 
narrative. Upon the death of Mr. Van Harlingen, the Board of 
Superintendents of the Theological School, temporarily appointed 
the Rev. Peter Steddiford to teach Hebrew. 



406 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



ing chiefly in the city of New- York, who had libe- 
rally contributed to the establishment of the school, 
in its present location, but had never, notwithstand- 
ing, it is believed, heartily approved of its removal 
and union with Queen's College, now indulged very 
hopeless calculations with respect to its future suc- 
cess. They could not persuade themselves, that it 
would ever answer the expectations of the Church, 
while so connected and located. The College, upon 
which so much dependence had been placed, for 
increasing the number of theological students, they 
had reason to fear, would, ere long, be once more 
wholly suspended — which in reality was the fact, 
within two or three years after : — They knew, too, 
that the professor, for whose comfort and happi- 
ness they felt a tender concern, had gone thither, 
bound, as it were, in the spirit, and that the funds 
which had been raised, were very inadequate for 
his support: — Thus impressed, and convinced, 
moreover, that there would be an immediate aug- 
mentation of the funds, if there might be a prospect 
of bringing the school back to New- York, and that 
the school, in this city, would be more known and 
more popular, they were at length impelled to 
take measures, or at least to commence opera- 
tions, for effecting such transfer. 



These movements in New- York, were not gene- 
rally regarded with much favour ; and the Doctor 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



407 



himself, was supposed by many, to have originated 
them, or if this be saying too much, to have approv- 
ed and encouraged them. The writer well remem- 
bers the animadversions which were occasioned by 
this supposed agency, or countenance, and feels 
gratified that he is able to present in this connexion, 
two letters upon the subject, which will show that 
the conduct of his venerable friend in the matter, 
was, in truth, deserving of the highest commenda- 
tion : 

" New Brunswick, Sep. 1st, 1813. 
" My dear Sir, 

******** «With much inte- 
rest and concern, I observe what you communicate 
in regard to the growing attention to the Theolo- 
gical Institution. As it is the great object to 
which my life is devoted, I cannot be indifferent to 
any thing which relates to that subject. — There are 
some things in this procedure, which claim my ador- 
ing gratitude, and some which are covered with a 
cloud, through which I cannot penetrate, or discern 
the mind and disposal of Divine Providence. I am 
glad that an enlightened and pious people, who 
have long enjoyed the fruits of an intelligent and 
well-educated ministry, begin at length to appre- 
ciate that blessing as they ought, It will be so : it 
must be so. The Lord's people must lay it to 
heart ; they must have the honour of bearing a part 



408 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



of the burthen, in which the prosperity of Zion is 
so deeply concerned. I bless God most fervently, 
that they are aroused to see and feel, and exert 
themseves in this precious work. I consider it as a 
token for good, and am so far from discouraging 
their efforts, that I wish them God speed, and pray 
the sentiment may take deep root, and excite 
through all our churches an ardent zeal, which, if 
directed by knowledge, will, I am persuaded, be 
acceptable to the great Redeemer, and productive of 
much good. It is a high and noble object ; but 
the time in which it commences, and the point to 
which it seems to be directed, are to me dark and 
inexplicable. I could explain what I mean by this 9 
but it would be premature." 

" It will suffice to observe, that after an institution 
is already established, it requires great prudence 
and caution to oppose it. The best of causes 
may, by precipitation or rashness, be essentially 
marred. To do too much, may sometimes be 
worse than to do too little. Every step will re- 
quire mature deliberation, and nothing positive 
with respect to the ultimate location, ought to be 
immediately adopted. The subject, in all its bear- 
ings, is interesting in the highest degree to the peace 
of the Churches, and very important to myself ; 
but unless I know more of the progress and pre- 
cise object of your friendly consultations, or until 



NEW-BKUNSWICK. 



409 



my advice be requested, it would be an improper 
anticipation to suggest any particular idea or sen- 
timent. " 

***** 

" The Lord bless you both, with your dear chil- 
dren, and give you precious answers to prayer. I 
bless you, and am, 

Dear Sir, 
Your faithful friend and servant, 
" J. H. LIVINGSTON. 

"I. L. Kip." 

"New-Brunswick, Sep. 11th, 1813. 

" My dear Sir, 

" It gives me pleasure to observe in your last 
esteemed favour, that the sentiments I expressed 
respecting the theological institution, met with your 
unequivocal approbation." 

" It is a great object, and has engaged my atten* 
tion and prayers many years. After the deranged 
state in which the business had been brought, by 
the destructive resolutions of the General Synods 
in 1797, and while there was not an individual who 
appeared in a series of years, to think upon the 
subject, or assist cordially, in devising anv measures 

52 



410 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



for its benefit, I was encouraged by the overtures 
made by the Trustees of this College, and hoped 
the dawn was opening, which would bring on the 
day for which we had so long waited. No objec- 
tions were then made, and as all concurred in fix- 
ing the institution in this place, I considered it to 
be the direction of Providence, and concluded I 
was going the right way when I came*" 

" There is, indeed, room for amendments ; and 
the future security of the institution, renders it ne- 
cessary, in its present state, to draw such broad 
lines, as will prevent every species of intrusion, and 
secure the essential point, and the perfect super- 
intendence, for ever, in the hands of the General 
Synod." 

" The Churches supposed they did what was 
right in fixing upon this place, and I thought I did 
what was right in coming here ; yet it is possible 
that we were all wrong ; but it is also possible 
that after all, it will be seen we have done exactly 
what ought to be done. As to the location of the 
institution in New-York, with all the advantages, 
which in theory appear plausible, there may be 
dangers, which, at the present moment, excite no 
apprehension ; but at a day not very distant, might 
prove exceeding formidable. It is said, that in the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



411 



ocean the large fishes devour the small, and it is 
certain that upon the land, something like this is 
often realized. We are, perhaps, in the safest situa- 
tion when we remain alone, without the collision 
of jarring interests, or aspiring competitors ; — in 
waters where no sharks can pursue us." 

" I now indulge the hope, that the time to 
favour Zion, yea, the set time is come, because the 
servants of the Lord begin to take pleasure in her 
stones, and favour the dust thereof. The meetings 
you have had will serve very important purposes* 
and greatly interest the Churches in this great 
work. I am happy that men of prudence, as well 
as zeal, are active members with you. Under such 
influence, with the blessing of the Lord, I am con- 
fident nothing rash will be adopted, but much good 
will be produced." 

***** * 
" Mercies rest upon you, and all yours, always. 
I bless you, and am 

" Your affectionate and faithful friend, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON, 

«I. L. Kip, Esq." 

Toward the close of the following year, the 
Doctor experienced a most painful affliction in the 



412 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



death of his excellent wife. They had lived 
together, in the greatest harmony and love, for 
nearly forty years — and she did not die unwept. He 
felt and mourned his loss ; but, at the same time, dis- 
played under it the faith, and fortitude, and resigna- 
tion of a saint, ripe himself for a transition to a 
better world, where the pangs of separation from 
souls congenial — where death, and sorrow, and 
crying, shall be known no more. On the morning 
af the day when her remains were to be interred, he 
sat down, and wrote his friend, Mr. Kip, the sub- 
joined letter : 

" New-Brunswick, Dec. 30, 1814. 
4 *My dear Friend, 

fi< It is done. The conflict is over. She 
has obtained the victory, and is entered into rest. 
On Sunday morning, Mrs. Livingston was seized 
with a pain in her head, which increased, and soon 
became very violent. She laid down, and was much 
indisposed, but no symptoms that produced any 
alarm, appeared before Tuesday, when her 
strength appeared to be wholly prostrated, and she 
sunk into a deep sleep, with intermediate agitations 
and struggles, without however being aroused from 
her lethargy. In the evening of Wednesday, it 
was evident her departure was at hand, and, with- 
out another struggle or groan, she gradually and 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



41c* 



gently fell asleep in the arms of her Redeemer, 
She left us a little after twelve that night. — Before 
she was taken ill, she frequently expressed an ar- 
dent desire to be with Christ, and almost envied 
those who were called home, of which there were 
three instances in this place, in the course of this 
very week. Her Lord has given her the desire 
of her soul, and has received her spirit." 

" This day her dear remains are to be deposited 
in the silent grave.— I do not love my blessed Je- 
sus any thing less for afflicting me. He is now 
very precious to me. All my springs are in Him. 
He stands by me, and strengthens me. It is the Lord. 
He hath taken away, blessed be his name, notwith- 
standing. — It is the heaviest stroke I have ever 
received; but it is well. — In the Lord I have 
righteousness and strength." 

" I can only drop a hasty line. I know your lov- 
ing heart will sympathize with me, and my afflicted 
children : pray for me and them. Her sickness be- 
ing only four days, prevented my sending in time 
for my dear son." 

" It will be proper, for the information of distant 
friends and relations, to insert the event in the pa- 
pers. — You will please to let them announce that- 
Died on Thursday the 29th inst. at New-Brunswick. 



414 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



N. J., Mrs. Sarah Livingston, wife of Rev. Dr Li- 
vingston, in the 6Sd year of her age. Them which 
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. — I can 
now only bless you and yours, and am 

" Your afflicted and faithful friend, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON." 

A few days after, he thus acknowledged the re- 
ceipt of a letter, expressive of condolence, from the 
Rev. Dr. J. B. Romeyn, of New- York : 

"New-Brunswick, Jan. 3d, 1815. 

" My dear Sir, 

" He who refines his people in the furnace of afflic- 
tion, walks with them through the fire, that they 
shall not be burned ; and his presence and grace 
prevent the flame from kindling upon them. I 
have always found his promise sure ; and, to his 
praise, I can now humbly say, that he makes my 
strength equal to my day. Although I am cast 
down, yet I am not destroyed." 

" It is an additional source of consolation, that my 
worthy Christian friends sympathize in my sor- 
rows. They weep with him who weeps, and their 
affectionate condolence is a balm to the wounded 
heart. I thank you most sincerely for your very 
kind letter. It comforted me. It was a word in 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



415 



season, and suggested sentiments which soothed 
and strengthened my soul. — Your tender attention 
has increased my love for you, and I now know 
that I have found a friend upon whom I can lean 
with confidence in my declining years. The Lord 
sanctify and comfort you and dear Mrs. Romeyn ! 

I bless you both, and am most respectfully, 
Your faithful, afflicted, yet supported friend 
and brother in the Lord, 

" Rev. Dr. Romeyn. " J. H. LIVINGSTON " 

The following answer to a letter from his friend, 
Mr. Kip, of a later date, affords farther evidence 
of the pious serenity of his mind, under this sore 
bereavement : 

"New-Brunswick, Jan. 16, 1815. 
" My very dear Friend, 

" It is kind to sympathize in affliction, and help 
bear the burdens which, sometimes when suppor- 
ted alone, prove very heavy. I thank you for your 
affectionate letter. In an hour of trial, the darkest 
and most peculiar in many respects I have ever 
experienced, the Lord has not forsaken me. My 
mind is preserved in peace, and grace has prevent- 
ed a single murmuring thought. It is all right. It 
is never convenient for us to suffer. But who shall 
say unto him, What doest thou ? The sovereignty 
of God first deeply impressed my mind, and I was 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



afraid to sin. The precious relation of my Redeem- 
er, in covenant love and faithfulness, now prevails, 
and I adore and bless him.* It is well. It is not in 



* The followingjs a copy of the inscription which the Doctor 
wrote, and had put upon the tomb-stone that covers his wife's 
grave : — 

To commemorate 
Departed Excellence, 
This Stone is erected 
in Memory of 
SARAH LIVINGSTON, 
by her Husband, 
John H. Livingston, D. D. 
She was 

Born in New- York, Dec. 7, 1752, 
and 

Fell asleep in New-Brunswick, Dec. 29, 1814. 

A persevering life of Faith, 
of Meekness, and Piety, 

rendered her 
A blessing to her Family, 

and endeared her 
to all who could estimate 
what is valuable 
in the Christian, 
the Wife, the Mother, 
and the Friend. 



To die is gain. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



417 



wrath, but mercy. It will work for good. He will 
not forget to be gracious." 

"I can scarcely realize what has happened, and 
seem to be not at home. The treasure and joy of 
the house, the spring of all the domestic movements 
is gone. The change is great and essential. We 
begin to be composed, and my dear daughters sus- 
tained their grief and loss with propriety. My son 
has not been able to come down yet. His only 
housekeeper was at the point of death with the ty- 
phus fever. His last letter mentions a hope of her 
recovery. I shall be very happy to see you, when- 
ever the season will permit you to come with safe- 
ty to your own precious health." 

" The bundle you sent has safely arrived. My 
children thank Mrs. K d, for her kind at- 
tention. The Lord spare and bless you and yours ! 



Second Side— 
Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. 

Third Side— 
Farewell, blest Saint, a short farewell. 

Until we meet in realms above, 
Where joys immortal ever dwell, 

And faith and hope are lost in love. 

Fourth Side— 

0 Death, where is thy sting ! 0 grave, where is thy victory ! 
58 



418 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



My daughters join in love to Mrs. K — p, and Mrs. 

K d, and yourself. My soul blesses you, and 

all yours ; — and I am, 

" Your afflicted, but faithful friend, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON. 

"I. L. Kip." 

It has been intimated that after the death of the la- 
mented Condict, Queen's College enjoyed but a smaU 
share of public patronage, and was, in appearance, 
gradually verging to a state of extinction. Such 
was the fact yet in 1815. Circumstances wore 
still a very unfavourable and discouraging aspect. 
There was now little probability of its ever becom- 
ing a literary institution of any eminence, and the 
Doctor, whose mind was intent upon building up a 
theological seminary of the first character, seized 
the conjuncture for the introduction of a plan, 
which he had many years before suggested to some 
of his particular friends, and which, as the attentive 
reader will readily recollect was, in effect, to con- 
vert Queen's College into a Theological College. 

For some time before, as it would appear, he had 
seriously revolved the plan, and endeavoured to 
mature it to his own satisfaction. In a letter da- 
ted Sep. 3d, 1813, he presented it to Dr. Romeyn, 
and requested a communication of that gentleman's 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



419 



ideas upon the subject. Whether the request was 
complied with, as Dr. R. was then about to depart 
for Europe, is not known ; but in the letter refer- 
red to, he says — " The whole question seems to 
be reduced to two points. Is it practicable ? Is 
it desirable ? — It is practicable. How it may be 
accomplished (a) on the part of the Trustees of 
the College, consistently with their charter ; (h) 
on the part of the Churches, conformably with their 
supreme prerogative in every appointment of all 
theological professorships. Query. Whether such 
an arrangement will not reduce the Trustees to 
mere holders of the funds of the General Synod ? 
The Board of Trustees is composed of men of 
various denominations. It is desirable (a) on 
the part of the College, because, as a literary insti- 
tution, Queen's College is not necessary ; its funds 
are inadequate and will so continue, nor will, nor 
can it ever prosper in the neighbourhood of two 
powerful rivals ; but by assuming a new form, it will 
be supported, become useful, and celebrated ; (b) 
on the part of the Churches their funds will thereby 
be increased and rendered secure : no separate 
interest in the institution will exist ; the whole will 
be simple, singular, and respectable." 

* * # * # # 

st The Lord, your good Shepherd, go before you. 



420 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



shield you from every evil, and give you the 
desires of your heart. Live by faith. Remember 
always, and every where, whose you are, and whom 
you serve. Fear not : He will be your help and 
shield. My fervent wishes and prayers shall follow 
you. When you return in health, I shall probably 
be at home in rest with my Divine Redeemer and 
all those who have gone before me. If you never 
see me again, remember I was your father's friend 
and your friend. May you be long spared to be 
more faithful and more useful than I have been." — 

" I have endeavoured to recollect some friend 
in Holland to whom I could introduce you, but I 
do not know that any of them are left. Forty-three 
years have swept them all away. One name, how- 
ever, was not in the list of the deceased which I 
last received. If he be alive, you will find in him 
a pious believer, a good scholar, and a celebrated 
poet. He was born and resided in the Hague, and 
was my bosom friend. His name is Petrus Leo- 
nardus Van de Kasteele. — He was a lawyer, and has 
sustained some public offices ; but what, or where 
he now is, I do not know."t * * * 



j A letter has been found among the Doctor's papers from 
Dr. Romeyn, written when this gentleman was in Holland, to Dr. 
L. which, as it gives a view of the moral and religious state of that 
country at the time, we take the liberty to present 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



421 



At the session of General Synod held in Albany, 
June, 1815, the plan of a Theological College was 



" Utrecht, June 12, 1814. 

" Reverend and dear Sir, 

" Little did I expect when I bid you farewell at Mr. Kip's, 
in New- York, that I would, in the course of Divine Provi- 
dence, have had the opportunity during my absence abroad, to 
address a letter to you from this place — -a place, the name of 
which must revive many tender recollections in your mind." 

" I am now on my return to England by the way of Rotterdam, 
having visited besides Rotterdam and this place, Delft, the 
Hague, Leyden, Haerlem, and Amsterdam. To all these places, 
except Delft, I have been kindly furnished with letters from Dr. 
Wernnick, Minister of the Dutch Church in England, which 
procured a ready access to the persons addressed. These per- 
sons promptly furnished me with the information desired, which, 
if I live to return and have the happiness of meeting you, I shall 
take pleasure in communicating to you." 

{< The character of this people, my dear Sir, has greatly dete- 
riorated in moral and religious excellence since your residence, 
The various revolutions which have taken place since 1787, and 
particularly since 1795, have had the most fatal effects upon the 
veracity and honesty of a large proportion of the community 0 
Every revolution brought along with it a new administration of go- 
vernment, which endeavoured to support itself by oaths. These 
oaths so often repeated, and so often broken, ultimately destroyed 
the solemnity of the oath, which, in its turn, destroyed a proper 
regard to their promise in individuals. Besides, during the domi- 
nance of the French, the requisitions demanded were frequent. 



422 



NEW-BRUNSWICK, 



submitted to this body in the Report of the Com 
mittee upon the Professorate, and adopted. 



consisting of a certain proportion of the income and stable pro- 
perty of individuals. The payment of these was accompanied, 
in every instance, by the oath of him who paid. As these requisi- 
tions were heavy, the citizens were tempted to trangress, to save 
themselves from want. The judgments of God upon the country 
have not produced suitable humiliation and repentance in the in- 
habitants. The public worship of God is not so well attended as it 
used to be previous to 1795. The young and rising generation are 
very generally Frenchified, loose in their principles, and negligent 
of all religious duties. Great apprehensions are entertained by 
the pious fathers and mothers in this Israel, for the future, in con- 
sequence of this state in which the youth have fallen." 

" The doctrines of g>*ace are still taught in the universities and 
pulpits. The elder ministers are more engaged than the younger, 
and also more practical. Many, too many of the latter, and of 
students in theology, are desitute of personal religion, though not 
immoral. They are inclining to liberal views in religion, and ap- 
proximating remotely to a scheme of doctrine, which is hostile to 
the truth as it is in Jesus." 

" The good old works of Hellenbrook, Schortenghius, Bra- 
kel, &c. are going fast out of date. Among the more polished 
part of Christians their day is over ; but among the lower classes 
they are still in some repute. The works of a Dom. Kist, in 
Dort, are popular above all other practical works. The character 
of his writings, as the evangelical clergy and laymen assure me, 
is sound and excellent. The works of Doddridge, John Newton, 
and Wm, Romaine, are also very popular, and doing, much good. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



423 



In this report, the committee say, " The follow- 
ing plan of a Theological College, to be formed by 



" Alphonso Turretin, to my grief, is superseding Francis, his 
father, in the estimation of the learned. Vitringa and Venema 
stand hi^h, but Witsius is rather on the wane. Michaelis, 
Koppe, and Ernest, of the Germans, are in great demand, but 
only as biblical critics. 

" The Sabbath is most wofully profaned. During Napoleon's 
government, the Theatre was open, on Sabbath evening, in Am- 
sterdam and the Hague. Still many stores are open during the 
day in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and during the evening, in th© 
former place, many more." 

" The impressions of gratitude for deliverance from the French, 
at first were deep, and the expressions thereof very general. But 
the people begin to forget the Lord, and the works of his hand. 
Indeed, it appears to me from what I have seen and heard, that 
heavier judgments are in store for these lands. I fear these 
judgments will be chiefly spiritual. " 

" In my wanderings, I have met one of your old friends, a Mr. 
Ledabore, of Rotterdam. He begged me, when I wrote to you, to 
say that I had become acquainted with the person who, forty odd 
years ago, wrote a couplet of poetry in your Album. He charged 
me to mention him affectionately to you in my letter. This 
charge I now cheerfully, and with peculiar pleasure, fulfil. 

" I must conclude this long letter. My health and Mrs. R.'s is 
materially benefitted by our transatlantic excursion. We unite 
in presenting our affectionate regards to Mrs. Livingston and 



424 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



a union between Queen's College and the profes- 
sorate, has been under the serious consideration of 
the Committee, and they beg leave to lay it before 
the Synod." 

The plan is then given in the form of a quotation, 
in these words — " 1. Let this College, when form- 
ed, have for its object, primarily, the education 
of young men for the Gospel Ministry. For se- 
curing this object, the religion of the Scriptures, as 
explained in the Belgic Confession of Faith and 
Heidlebergh Catechism, shall be the basis of all the 
instruction given in this institution. The teachers, 
if not clergymen, must be professors of religion, or 
at least, must subscribe their assent to the doctrines 
contained in the above-mentioned Confession and 
Catechism." 

" 2. As it is not probable that so many youths, de- 
signed for the ministry, will offer themselves for 
admission in this College, as to occupy the time and 
exercise the talents of the teachers, let a select 



yourself. I hope that you are in the enjoyment of health of body, 
and prosperity of soul. 

" With unfeigned respect and affection, 
" Rev. and dear Sir, 

" Yours, in the best bonds, 

" JOHN B. ROMEYN. 

% Rev. Dr. Livingston." 



425 



number, designed for any other profession (say 20, 
30, 40, 50) be admitted, speciali gratia, who shall 
be subject to all the rules and regulations of the 
College. The age at which students are to be ad- 
mitted, to be not less than 14 years. " 

"3. Let there be four professors, who shall be ap- 
pointed as follows : — 1. The professor of theology* 
by the General Synod of the Church, which ap- 
pointment the Trustees shall approve. 2. The pro- 
fessor of biblical criticism in the same way. 8* 
The professor of ecclesiastical history, in the 
same way, 4. The professor of mathematics, 
&c. by the Trustees alone. 5. Let the three theo- 
logical professors be thus appointed by General 
Synod, who shall specify their departments in theo- 
logical studies : their other services to be regula- 
ted by the Trustees. 6, Let the two funds be 
blended in one, with an understanding that Synod 
will raise, annually, half the support of the pro- 
fessors whom they appoint. 9 ' 

The Committee then add, that they " are folly 
impressed with the utility of such a plan, as calcu- 
lated to answer the great end contemplated by the 
Reformed Dutch Church, in furnishing the 
Churches with a pious and able ministry. On the 

expediency of immediately taking measures in so 

54 



1 

426 NEW-BRUNSWICK. 

important a matter, necessarily involving great 
alterations in the present plan subsisting between 
the Trustees and this Synod, they forbear to 
express a decided opinion ; but they recommend 
it to the serious attention of Synod, and suggest 
the propriety of appointing a Committee, to lay the 
above plan before the Trustees of Queen's College, 
for their consideration." 

A Committee was accordingly appointed to con- 
fer with the Board of Trustees, on the subject of 
the above plan, which there can be no doubt had 
been originally drawn up, and was now proposed 
by the Doctor* 

cc The relief of this aged and venerable teacher, 
the plan of the school, its respectability and use- - 
fulness, together with the reputation and interests 
of the Church at large," it had been previously 
judged, required " the establishment of, at least, 
another professorship ;" and the Consistories of the 
Churches in Albany and New-Brunswick, having 
made certain liberal proffers toward the object, for 
a term of years, this Synod resolved to appoint an 
additional professor. Pursuant to this resolution, 
they proceeded to the election of a suitable person, 
and, on counting the ballots, it appeared that the 
Rev. John Schureman was chosen professor of 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



427 



pastoral theology and ecclesiastical history. — The 
appointment was accepted.* 



* Dr. Schureman died of a typhus fever, May 15, 1818, after 
serving the church, as professor, but about two years and a half. 

He was truly one of the excellent of the earth, and furnished 
with such gifts, natural and acquired, that had his life been spared 
he would doubtless have become very distinguished in the depart- 
ment assigned him. The Church greatly deplored the loss sus- 
tained in his death ; and the following was the expression of the 
sentiments of the General Synod, in reference to the event 

** The death of the late professor, Rev. Dr. John Schureman, 
is an event which, however it may have been his incalulable gain, 
is deeply to be deplored by us. So amiable were his manners — 
so undoubted his piety — so acceptable his services — and so flat- 
tering were the prospects, as to his usefulness to the Church, that 
we cannot but mourn that such a man is removed from our insti- 
tution. But it is the Lord's will, and we are to be resigned ; be- 
sides, the cause of our college we trust is the Lord's cause, and 
we are assured that it shall be promoted." At the next session 
of Synod, it was resolved, " that a plain tombstone be erected 
over his grave, with a suitable inscription, declaring the important 
station he occupied in the church, and the esteem which this body 
will long cherish for one whose praise was in all the churches." 

The Doctor was born Oct. 19, 1778, in the neighbourhood of 
New-Brunswick. — As soon as he was sufficiently initiated in the 
learned languages, and other preparatory studies, he became a 
member of Queen's College, and to the degree of Bachelor of 
Arts in that Institution, Sept. 30, 1795, when he was not yet se- 
venteen years of age. He pursued the study of theology under 



NEW-BRUNSWICK, 



A circumstance occurred at the present meet- 
ing of Synod, which, as it will serve to give an idea 



Dr. Livingston, and, in 1800, was licensed to preach the Gospel. 
About a year after, he was ordained to the service of the sanctuary, 
and installed pastor of the Reformed Dutch C hurch at Bedrninster, 
N. J. — In 1807, he acepted a call from the Reformed Dutch 
Church at Millstone, N. J. and in 1809, he was called and in- 
stalled one of the pastors of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch 
Church in New- York. He had not been settled long in the city, 
before he found his health to fail him, and this continuing to be the 
case more and more, upon receiving an invitation to occupy the 
vacancy in Queen's College, occasioned by the death of Dr. Con- 
dict, he resigned his pastoral charge, and removed to New- 
Brunswick, in 1811. The college was, for the present at least, 
irrecoverably depressed, and all the efforts he could employ to 
improve its state, proved unavailing ; but his removal was, by the 
divine blessing, the means of restoring his health. — In January, 
1813, he was installed in the pastoral charge of the Reformed 
Dutch Church in New-Brunswick : — this situation, however, the 
failure of his health again soon compelled him to relinquish. — In 
October, 1815, the General Synod, as stated above, appointed 
him professor of ecclesiastical histon , &c. and in May, 1818, his 
earthly house was dissolved, and he was translated to an house not 
made with hands, eternal in the heavens, in the 40th year of his 
age. His character was well drawn in a few words, in a letter ad- 
dressed to the writer, shortly after his death, by Dr. Livingston. 

" You knew him. He was mild and pleasant ; discerning and 
lirm ; steadfast, but not obstinate ; zealous, but not assuming. 
The frequent hemorrhage of his lungs, and the habitual weakness 
of his constitution, prevented him from close and intense studies ; 



NBW-BRUNSWICK. 



of the admiration the Doctor's personal appearance 
excited wherever he went, as well as of the 
high respect cherished for his elevated character, 
must not be omitted. It is thus noticed in the mi- 
nutes of the Synod : — " Several gentlemen inform- 
ed the Synod, that as a testimony of the high respect 
which they entertain for the Rev. Dr. John H. 
Livingston, they have requested him to permit Mr. 
Ames, of the city of Albany, to take his portrait, 
which they design to present to the Board of Super- 
intendents, for preservation in the Theological 
Hall, in New-Brunswick.— Resolved unanimously, 
that the thanks of this Synod be presented to those 
gentlemen, and that they have liberty to deposit 
said portrait in the Theological Hall." 

The plan of the Theological College was formal- 
ly acceded to by the Board of Trustees, and at an 
extraordinary session of the Synod, convened in 
the autumn of this year, all the details of the same 

yet he was a good belles-lettres scholar. His style was correct 
and pure ; and he made such progress in the official branches of 
his professorship, that his lectures upon ecclesiastical history 
and pastoral theology, were highly acceptable, and very useful 
The suavity of his manners, and the propriety of his conduct, en- 
deared him to the students, and recommended him to the respect 
and affection of all who knew him. He was growing into exten- 
sive usefulness, and had he lived, and progressed as he began, 
would have become a treasure to the Theological College*" 



430 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



were digested and settled ; but the following year, 
the Trustees found themselves under the necessity 
of informing the Synod, that owing to the inade- 
quacy of their funds, they could not " support the 
present establishment of professors and teachers in 
the College." This being the fact, it was not pos- 
sible immediately to carry the plan into complete 
operation, and the literary exercises of the Institu- 
tion were in consequence discontinued. 

While he instructed his " dear young men," as 
he was wont to call them, with an ability, diligence, 
and zeal, which the Board of Superintendents in 
their annual report upon the state of the school, 
frequently commended in strong terms, and while 
he sought, in every practicable way, to render the 
Institution under his care, more extensively useful, 
the Doctor devoted much of his attention to other 
matters, which he supposed to be in any wise con- 
nected with the peace, purity, and prosperity of the 
Church at large. As a proof of this, it is proper 
to state, that he had employed some of his time of 
late, in preparing a dissertation upon the question 
relative to the lawfulness of a marrage with a 
deceased wife's sister — a question, which had often 
occasioned considerable discussion in the several 
judicatories of the Church, and which was yet, as 
many believed, involved in no little difficulty. He 



NEW-BRUNSWICK* 



was fully convinced of the unlawfulness of the 
connexion ; and in the spring of 1816, gave to the 
public a pamphlet, containing a very elaborate ar- 
gument against it, and in support of the existing law 
of the Church upon the subject.— A copy of this 
pamphlet, or small book, entitled " A Dissertation 
on the Marriage of a Man with his Sister-in~Law," 
he presented to the Synod. The Synod presented 
in return, their thanks for the book, and resolved 
that it should be deposited among their archives. 

It has been seen that the Doctor rather discoun- 
tenanced the design which had been formed in 
New-York, to obtain a transfer of the school to that 
city :— His views of such a measure, however, be- 
came afterwards somewhat changed, in conse- 
quence, probably, of the disappointment of his cal- 
culations with respect to the Theological College.— 
The same thing was now again seriously intended ; 
and at the same time, some gentlemen at the North, 
contemplated the establishment of a theological 
school within the bounds of the Particular Synod 
of Albany. — Upon both these projects, he was con- 
sulted ; and his hope of seeing his expectations 
realized at New-Brunswick, being almost annihila- 
ted, he lent an indulgent ear to both. 

The following letter relating to them, will be pe- 
rused with interest : 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



44 New-Brunswick, Dec. 3d, 1816. 
" My dear Friend, 

" That it is practicable to establish a Theological 
Seminary in the city of New-York* I never doubt- 
ed : — to obtain it was always my wish and object. 
But after waiting and toiling, without the counte- 
nance and assistance either of the public or even any 
individual, I at length desponded, and sunk under 
the weight of an Institution, which had pressed upon 
me alone so many years. — No friend, no brother, 
to strengthen my hands, console my heart, or en- 
courage me in my labours ; no compensation to me« 
nor any provision devised for a successor in the 
work ; I was under the necessity of dismissing any 
farther efforts, and suffering the Institution finally 
to fall, or to remove to some other place, at the 
sacrifice not only of interest, but of every thing 
dear and precious to my heart. It was to me a 
species of martyrdom, which nothing but a zeal to 
promote the prosperity of the Church, could sug- 
gest, and a humble confidence in the presence and 
approbation of my Divine Master, could have ena- 
bled me to sustain." 

" The experiment has been made ; and while con- 
curring events in Providence, indicate that the place 
in which the Institution is now fixed is not the most 
eligible, it has served at length to arouse the pub 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



43a 



lie mind, and excite efforts to make suitable ar- 
rangements for an honourable and permanent estab- 
lishment. If this object may be attained, — if this 
end may be effected by my coming here, I shall be 
finally reconciled to the losses and griefs I have sus- 
tained, and will consider my sufferings and labours 
to be crowned with ultimate success, Nothing, 
therefore, upon my part can arise to frustrate you, 
and the faithful friends who associate with you, in 
the plan for removing the Institution to New-York*" 

" Last summer, when nothing but mere conver- 
sation for bringing the Theological College to 
New- York had yet taken place, I expressed, with- 
out the least reserve, my approbation to have an 
Institution erected at Schenectady, especially if it 
could be exclusively effected by the northern inte- 
rest. If it must sink at Brunswick, I would wish it 
to arise any where, rather than to witness its total 
failure. But I have not committed myself by any 
promise, either express or implied. I said to them 
in the north, as I say to those in the south, that I 
will wait to see what the Lord may please to do in 
behalf of this work : and wherever and whenever I 
may be convinced it is his will I should remove, I 
feel ready and disposed to go ; but without such 
conviction, I shall assuredly remain where I am." 

" The communication you made in your last esr 

55 



^EW-BRUNSWICK, 



teemed letter is very interesting and acceptable. 
You, and your worthy associates, well know the 
magnitude of the object ; you fully estimate what 
is honourable and safe, and I am confident the 
Committee will propose, and all will adopt the 
most prudent, effectual, and speedy measures for 
accomplishing the plan.— My prayers are for you, 
and I trust and am sure, that my God will bless 
whatever shall be subservient to his glory, and for 
the best interests of his church. Goon, and pros- 
per ! The Lord be with you all, and honour you 
in being made his instruments to promote his glori- 
ous work !" 

" My children unite in love to you and your dear 
family. I bless you and all your's, and am ever 
Your faithful friend and servant, 

« J. H. LIVINGSTON. 

4 1. L. Kip Esq." 

In another to the same individual, dated Jan, 28, 
1817, he further observed, "The details of the 
proceedings of yourself and worthy associates, 
excited my admiration, and prompted an adoring 
view of the procedures of Divine Providence. I 
know that the Lord will fulfil his gracious designs 
of good and prosperity to our Reformed Church. 
There are permanent and large blessings in store. 
I have waited long to see and realize them. If the 



JtfEW-BRUNSWICK. 



436 



steps I have taken shall prove the means of exci- 
ting his people to exert themselves ; if they shall 
ultimately lead to that point of prosperity, which 
will be an answer to our prayers and hopes, my 
soul will rejoice, and the long train of privations^ 
self-denial, and species of martyrdom I have suffer- 
ed, will be abundantly compensated in the pros* 
perity of our precious Zion." 

At his own request, the whole plan which his 
friends in New- York had adopted in this interest- 
ing affair, was soon after laid before him ; but to 
some parts of it he was strongly opposed, particu- 
larly to one which related to the formation of a 
Board of Trustees, to have the charge and control 
of the moneys that might be raised. In his letters 
upon this exceptionable point, he maintained with 
great force of argument, and great zeal, the ability 
and the right of General Synod to manage their 
own pecuniary concerns, without the intervention 
or superintendence of a Board of Trustees. The 
plan was then modified, in conformity to the views 
he had expressed, and suitable exertions were 
made to obtain such an amount of subscriptons 
under it, as would give it a claim to the serious 
attention of the Synod. 

The next May, he wrote his friend as follows— 
" With much satisfaction, I noticed in your esteem- 



.NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



ed letter, the great exertions you have made, and 
what you intend still to do. Your subscriptions 
are indeed thus far, very great, and a good index 
to your prospects. I know well the difficulty 
which you have experienced in bringing forward 
this arduous business, even thus far. Nothing has 
certainly been neglected upon your part ; and 
whatever may be the issue in Divine Providence ; 
whether it shall be judged safe and expedient to 
remove the institution to New- York, upon the pro- 
visional proposals which are now suggested ; — or to 
continue it where it still is at New-Brunswick, you 
will assuredly not lose your strenuous labours, nor 
your gracious reward. It will be said of you, as 
of David, — " For as much as it was in thine heart to 
build an house for my name, thou didst well, in that 
it was in thine heart." The Lord, I hope, will bless 
you for this, whatever may be the issue ; and I trust 
the spirit which is now aroused, will prompt all 
who wish to build that house, to unite with vigour 
and zeal in promoting the institution, whether it 
shall remain where it now is, or be removed. — It is 
a great and common cause. No partial views or 
objects can be consulted, or will be admitted. 
Divine Providence will fix the point ; and in that 
point, wherever it may be, all our combined efforts, 
without farther distraction or division of sentiment, 
must cordially concentrate. For myself, free from 
zil prejudice? or private interest, I will wait to see 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



437 



what our Divine Redeemer will direct his Church 
to determine ; and in that determination, I shall, 
through grace, calmly acquiesce." 

The General Synod at their meeting in June, of 
this year (1817,) had the application of the Particu- 
lar Synod of Albany, and that of the New- York As- 
sociation, duly presented for their consideration. 
With respect to the first, it was resolved, for reasons 
stated in the preamble to the resolution — " That 
the request of the Particular Synod of Albany, to 
establish a Theological School within their bounds, 
is altogether in expedient,and therefore be not grant- 
ed." Touching the second,— as the proposals with 
which it was connected, of support to the Seminary ? 
in case of its being transferred to New- York, were 
considered liberal, a Committee was appointed to 
ascertain whether the Trustees would, "in case of 
said removal, consent to devote the proceeds of the 
moneys already put into their hands in trust by the 
General Synod, and the proceeds of the moneys 
donated by the late Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten,* 
so far as they" could "do it consistently with 



*The Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, a pious and venerable 
father of the Church, in the year 1814, made a liberal donation to 
the Trustees of Queen's College, which was afterwards increasedj 
by a bequest contained in his last will and testament. The do- 
nation and legacy amounted to upwards of $17,000, which sum it 
was his request should be put out at interest by a joint commit- 



438 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



the terms of his original grant, to the support of the 
school in New- York, or in any other place, in which 
General Synod think it may be most prosperously 
supported" 

But, notwithstanding the appointment of this 
Committee, the friends of a removal were pretty 
well convinced, it would appear, by what they had 
seen and heard in the Synod, that their application 
would not succeed. For, in answer to a letter which 
he had received from his esteemed correspondent^ 
a few weeks after the adjournment of Synod, the 
Doctor thus wrote— 44 Your observations upon the 
situation of our institution, are prudent and weighty. 
The enumeration of so many formidable € nothings- 



tee from the Trustees and the General Synod, " for the support 
and education in the classical and theological studies, of pious 
youth, who hope they have a call of God, to preach the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ," — if recommended by the General Synod. 

To testify their respect for the memory of this excellent ser- 
vant of Christ, and their gratitude for his pious liberality, the Ge- 
neral Synod in 1817, appointed a Committee, consisting of Dr* 
Livingston and Rev. Messieurs Peter Labagh and Charles Har- 
denburgh, to have his remains removed from the place where 
they had been deposited, at his death, to the Cemetery of the Re- 
formed Protestant Dutch Church in the city of New-Brunswick, 
and to have a monumental stone, with an appropriate inscription, 
erected over them. The commission was fulfilled. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



439 



suggests serious discouragements, and raises pros- 
pects not very flattering to those who fervently 
wish to promote the best interests of the Church. 
A divided sentiment in regard to the best means, 
and most of all, a lukewarm zeal for obtaining the 
great end in view, have hitherto paralyzed every 
effort in this great business. Our forlorn Zion may 
surely adopt the sad complaint of the Prophet— 
"There is none to guideher among all the sons whom 
she hath brought forth ; neither is there any that 
taketh her by the hand, of all the sons that she hath 
brought up." The people are universally able and 
willing to give, but there is no uniform, no efficient 
planlaid before them, to concentrate their offerings." 

" But if all other exertions, when laid in the ba- 
lance, should ultimately amount to " nothing," let 
not that reproachful term be inscribed upon your 
noble design. Go on. You have proceeded too 
far now to recede. Only let it be in Christian for- 
bearance, and perfect good humour, while you ad- 
here scrupulously to the established old maxim, — 
that in every question, the majority must always de- 
cide. If all our works be done in love, and with 
mutual confidence, they will certainly end well. 
Terrific and appalling as every thing respecting 
our valuable establishment at the present moment 
may appear, my hope and expectation are not re- 



440 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



ducedto despair. All these fearful nothings will 
yet produce a something that shall gladden our 
hearts, and bring down blessings upon our children* 
The Lord reigneth. There are prayers before the 
throne of ancient date, which are not yet answer- 
ed, but will most assuredly prevail. The Shep" 
herd of Israel will watch over his flock, and raise up 
such helpers as shall unite in sentiment, and prove 
successful in accomplishing his high purposes. And 
I wish to persevere in considering you and your 
worthy associates, as standing among the foremost 
of such helpers. There I rest my hope. I know 
we must be active and faithful in the use of suitable 
means, and that the whole disposal of them is of 
the Lord. I wait to experience his mercy. I am 
deeply interested in the result. I have made great- 
er sacrifices to advance this establishment than any 
other individual, and all my comforts and usefulness 
are at stake." 

"As to my private sentiments, although they are 
matured, as it regards what I esteem the best place 
for the Institution, and the most productive me- 
thods for bringing it to perfection, yet I cheerfully 
submit to the decision of the majority of my bre- 
thren, and without obstinately insisting that others 
shall think exactly as I do, I will cheerfully acqui- 
esce and co-operate with them, — wherever, by such 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



441 



indications in his holy Providence, the Lord shall 
convince me that I must go or remain, there shall 
be my dwelling." 

In another letter, dated Oct. 1, 1817, there is the 
following paragraph: "Yesterday, and the day be- 
fore, the Board of Trustees here have been in ses- 
sion, and formed such decisions as in their wisdom 
they judged proper. — I intended to give you the 
sum of their deliberations and resolutions ; and, 
indeed, waited with my answer to your kind letter 
for that purpose. But an authenticated copy is 
ordered to be communicated to the conferring com- 
mittee, and I believe our worthy friend Isaac Heyer, 
who returns this day, has the copy. I refer you, 
therefore, to that document, and to his observations. 
The Lord, I trust, will overrule the various efforts 
of the friends of our Zion, for good ; and the differ- 
ent views, with respect to the means which have 
prevailed among those who equally aim at the same 
end, will be made ultimately to produce the great 
and desired object." 

The Synod met, pursuant to adjournment, in the 
latter part of the present month, and put the ques- 
tion relative to a removal of the school at rest. — • 
The Trustees had refused to give their consent to 

such removal, and so long as that consent was de- 

56 



442 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



nied, the Synod believed that their covenant with 
the Board, required the continuance of the Institu- 
tion at New-Brunswick. This being their view of 
the obligation of the covenant, the application from 
New- York was, of course, dismissed ; and would 
have been dismissed, no doubt, had the promises 
of support been ever so liberal and satisfactory. 

When apprized of the result, which, if not alto- 
gether unexpected, it is probable, was not alto- 
gether the most pleasing one that could have hap- 
pened, the Doctor showed no uneasiness — ex- 
pressed no disapprobation ; but, on the contrary* 
appeared to be quite satisfied, and evinced the 
same generous devotedness and zeal, that had here- 
tofore marked the whole of his conduct. 

A short extract from a letter to his friend in New- 
York, written Nov. 15th, 1817, must here be pre 
sented : " I have not yet seen any copy of the acts 
of the last adjourned Synod, but I understand it 
was the full and decisive resolution of the mem. 
bers to establish the Theological Institution at New- 
Brunswick, while strenuous exertions are to be made 
for obtaining a necessary support. What those ex- 
ertions are to be, and whether they will prove pro- 
ductive and sufficient, I do not know. But it seems, 
that in the present situation of the Institution, an 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



443 



honourable opening is now before you, and your 
pious associates, to do something that will be good 
and great, and independent of precarious contin- 
gencies, whatever may be the issue of the present 
efforts, and wherever the Institution may be final- 
ly fixed. — I will not mention to what I refer, but 
cheerfully leave to yourself the honour of first sug- 
gesting, as well as accomplishing, the whole of 
such a noble and generous plan. I will only say, 
it would add a wreath of reputation to your name, 
and, what is of infinitely higher importance, it would 
make glad the city of our God. The whole might 
be brought to perfection, notwithstanding any ob- 
jections from different interests, and even could be 
put into operation immediately. And^when thus 
accomplished, might be afterwards, with more 
splendid effect, presented to the Synod, with an 
assurance of their approbation, gratitude, and 
praise." 

And in another, dated March 3d, 1818, he ob- 
served, " What a kind Providence will yet effect in 
favour of our important Institution, and what will 
be the final result of the different opinions of those, 
who are all equally united in wishing to promote 
its highest interests, I do not know. He who has 
all hearts under his almighty control, who loves his 
Church more than we do, and whose thoughts are 



444 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



not as our thoughts, will assuredly take care of his 
own cause, and make all work for good. The tri- 
butary streams of various opinions, will finally con- 
centrate, and an union of strength and prosperity 
crown the faithful wishes, and strenuous efforts of 
his dear people." 

Thus much of his correspondence upon this sub- 
ject has been submitted, because it was deemed 
important to exhibit precisely the course he adop- 
ted, in all proceedings that affected, or were likely 
to affect, either directly or indirectly, an Institution 
in which both the Church and himself had so deep 
an interest ; and it is presumed, that no reader who 
has perused it with attention, can cherish in rela- 
tion to that course, throughout, any other opinion 
than that it was in a high degree consistent with his 
profession and station — disinterested, magnani- 
mous, praiseworthy. 

From this time, the dear, venerable man, seemed 
to consider the school as permanently fixed at 
New-Brunswick ; and no new attempts were made 
to locate it elsewhere.* 



* The General Synod of this year, (1818) elected the Rev. 
Tho. De Witt, to succeed the late Dr. Schureman, as Professor 
of Biblical Literature and Ecclesiastical History ; — the appoint- 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



445 



Early in the ensuing autumn, death again enter- 
ed his dwelling, and removed from him one of his 
grand-daughters, the wife of the Rev. B. Hoff, 
in the twenty-second year of her age. — Of this 
afflictive event, he gave a hasty account to his friend 
Mr. K — ,the same day it occurred, in the following 
letter : — 

" New-Brunswick, Sep. 18th, 1818. 

" My dear Friend, 

" After indulging the hope, that our precious 
Sarah was gradually reviving from her tedious in- 
disposition, and would again enjoy her former 
health, a decisive event has prostrated our fond 
expectation, and finished what appertained to my 
amiable child. In the course of last week, she 
evidently began to lose strength ; yet her vigour 
and cheerfulness struggled against disease, and 
prevented her from complaining. Our fears were 
not yet alarmed. Yesterday morning she sat at 



ment, however, was not accepted. In consequence of the decli- 
nature of the Professor elect, the Board of Superintendents deem- 
ed it their duty to provide temporary instructers ; — they accor- 
dingly appointed the Rev. James S. Cannon, to teach Ecclesias- 
tical History, Church Government, and Pastoral Theology ; and 
Mr. John S. Mabon, to teach the Hebrew and Greek languages, 
— the services of these gentlemen, in their respective depart- 
ments, gave great satisfaction. 



446 



NEW-BRUNSWIOK. 



breakfast with us, but soon laid down, to rise no 
more in this life. During the evening and night 
she was rapidly declining, and this morning at day- 
light, without a struggle, groan, or motion, she gently 
fell asleep in the Lord. I never saw a death so 
easy and tranquil. Her reason continued to the 
last moment. She could speak but little ; but all, 
I trust, was well." 

" You can judge of our feelings. Mr. H. is sup- 
ported through grace, in his grief. The children are 
overwhelmed with sorrow. My heart is pierced ; but 
I trust the Lord will uphold and comfort us in our dis- 
tress. I drop this line to communicate the event, and 
because I know you sincerely sympathize with us." 

" We send our tender love to you and the family* 
I bless you and all yours, and am, most affection- 
ately, my dear friend, 

" Your servant and friend, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON." 

To this painful dispensation of Divine Providence, 
soon succeeded another of a similar nature, in the 
decline and death of his second grand-daughter, and 
the only companion he had left. Under date of 
February 6th, 1819, he again wrote: — "My dear 
Eliza is daily consuming. She is reduced to a mere 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



447 



skeleton. Her power of digestion appears to be 
wholly lost. The sustenance she receives is little 
or nothing. It is astonishing that with so little food 
she still survives. We have cause to fear that some 
sudden prostration of her little remaining strength, 
will close the scene. Yet she sits up, walks through 
the house, and is with us at the table ; but she ap- 
pears sensible of her situation, and I hope and pray 
the Lord will prepare my precious child for her 
great change. She is my only remaining com- 
panion in my family here, and the dispensation of 
Providence is severely felt :— My heart replies, — 
It is my Father- — It is my Saviour — His blessed 
will be done. It is all right. He does all things 
well. O, if my name be written in the Book of 
Life !" — And in April, he communicated the sad 
tidings of her departure. 

"New-Brunswick, April 5th, 1819. 
" My dear Friend, 

" The scene has closed. My dear Eliza rests. 
She died this morning, at ten o'clock. Without a 
struggle, or the least apparent agony, she gently 
sunk into the bosom of her Divine Shepherd and 
Saviour. Her mind has been uniformly serene. 
She knew her change was approaching, but was 
not terrified. Without fear or unbelief, she seemed 



448 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



cheerfully to commit her departing spirit into the 
hands of the precious Jesus." 

" I send my love to you and all yours. Remem- 
ber me at the throne of grace. I have only time to 
bless you, and assure you that 

" I am yours, 

"J. H. LIVINGSTON." 

The Lord had now added grief to his sorrow ; 
but the Lord, nevertheless, was his strength and 
his fortress, and his refuge in the day of affliction.* 
The foregoing letters afford pleasing evidence of 
the exercise of pious resignation and strong faith 
under these repeated and heavy strokes, which his 
Heavenly Father, in covenant love, had dealt out to 
him, to mature him for heaven. And who can pic- 
ture to himself this servant of Christ, at seventy- 
three years of age, bereft of wife and children, yet 
composed — exercising a firm confidence in God — 
filled with joy and peace in believing — and talking 
sweetly of heavenly things, even while the smart 
of the bereavement is keenly felt, and not desire 
and pray that he may experience, if he be a stranger 
to it, — the power of that Religion, whose precious 



* Jer. 45, 3, and 16—19, 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



449 



consolations can so sustain the soul, when earthly 
comforts fail, yea, when flesh and heart themselves 
fail! Happy, indeed, is he that hath the God of 
Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his 
God* 

The Doctor, though deeply sensible of the loss 
of these objects of his tender affection, and though 
often indisposed by reason of the increasing infirmi- 
ties of age, was enabled to continue, without inter- 
ruption of any consequence, the discharge of his 
professoral duties. 

The Board of Superintendents, in their report 
of this year, in speaking of him, thus expressed 
themselves : — "With gratitude to the Great Head 
of the Church, the Board inform Synod, that the 
health und usefulness of their venerable professor 
Livingston, are still continued; and that at his advan- 
ced age, he is, with his usual devotedness and abili- 
ty, blessing the Church, by communicating to her 
successive ministers that theological information, 
for which he is so eminently distinguished." They 
further stated, that they had " respectfully request- 
ed the Rev. Dr. Livingston to publish his Lectures, 
as a measure calculated to be of vast advantage to 



* Psalms, 146—5. 
57 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



the students, to the Institution, and to the Church 
at large." This was bestowing a very high enco- 
mium upon his system of divinity ; and it will not 
be supposed that gentlemen of respectable theolo- 
gical attainments themselves, who had the oversight 
of the Institution, and attended the regular examina- 
tions of the students, were not competent judges of 
the peculiar merits of that system ; — but the re- 
quest was not complied with, and this is much to 
be regretted.* 

The desire of seeing this school suitably endow- 
ed, and established before he should be taken from 
the Church, prompted him the following year, to 
make one more effort to awaken some zeal in its 
favour. In a late letter to his friend, who has been 
so often mentioned, he observed — " It is said the 
night is darkest just before daylight. With the open- 



* At the close of their Report, the Board expressed a wish that 
the vacant professorships might be filled as soon as possible. 
The Synod accordingly proceeded forthwith to fill one of them, 
and elected the Rev, (now Dr.) John Ludlow, the Professor of 
Biblical Literature, and Ecclesiastical History. This gentleman 
discharged the duties of his office with distinguished ability, and 
with the full confidence of all the churches in his growing useful- 
ness, until 1823, when, to the great regret of the Synod, he consi- 
dered it his duty to accept a call which he had received from the 
North Dutch Church of Albany. The Rev. (now Dr.) John De 
Witt was then chosen his successor. 



NEW-BKUNSWICK. 



451 



ing dawn, the gloom and shades will be dispersed. 
I hope against hope, and am assured that I shall not 
be confounded or ashamed with the result. Why 
some withdraw their subscription, and the most 
appear discouraged or lukewarm, I do not know. 
I leave it in his hand, and to his holy disposal, who 
will finish his own work, and do all things well." 

Under the influence of this confidence, that the 
work was of the Lord, and would not be suffered 
to fail, he again wrote to the same person, some 
time after, in a letter bearing date Dec. 21, 1820* 
— " It certainly can answer no purpose to waste 
our time and strength in lamentations, or to expect 
that mere talking and forming plans, without put- 
ting them in execution, will ever produce the great 
end in view. It was a wise measure in the Synod 
to form a Board, in whose wisdom and energy the 
great concerns of the Theological Institution should 
be vested ; and better men could not be found, than 
those who constitute that corporation. But what 
have these good men effected ? The dispute and 
contest with the Trustees of Queen's College have, 
indeed, been carried on, and it is not yet decided. 
But, after all, what is the amount of this whole dis- 
pute ? What is the paltry sum the Trustees assert 
to be liquidated? And, indeed, what is their whole 
fund, and even the Van Bunschooten legacy, which 



452 NEW-BRUNSWICK. 

is out upon bonds that are not paid ?— The whole, 
all that is in the hands of the Trustees, if it was all 
put into your hands, would be but a drop of the 
bucket ; it would not be sufficient to support one 
professorship. Would it not be better, instead of 
spending your time and energy in prosecuting this 
dispute, to form some enlarged plans for creating 
and enlarging a substantial fund V 

" The only foundation upon which a public in- 
stitution can safely rest, is a fixed fund whose 
interest will be equal to the support. To depend 
upon cent societies, and occasional contributions, is 
futile and uncertain. The plan to be adopted is to 
raise that fund ; but how to raise it is, indeed, the 
question. Our brethren, the Presbyterians, raise it, 
and we might raise it in the same way. They 
employ agents. Their Synods resolve to raise a 
professorship, which requires $25,000, and they 
have raised it. And we can do the same ; if our 
corporation will exert their influence and energy, 
employ agents, and recommend each Synod to 
raise one professorship, it will be done. We have 
sufficient strength of members and of wealth to 
accomplish every thing that is necessary ; but they 
must be directed, and efficacious plans formed and 
executed, to bring their strength and wealth to 
their proper point. * * * But, surely, in the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



453 



city of New- York, on Long Island, and here, in the 
Jerseys, within the bounds of the Synod of New- 
York, we might find twenty men who would give or 
loan $250 to the Synod, and one hundred more who 
would give $100, and so down to lower sums, by 
which we might form an aggregate of $25,000 : at 
any rate, we ought vigorously to make the trial. * 
* * * Unless more energetic measures are 
taken, than have been during the present year, 
a dissolution of the Institution must inevitably 
Mow." 

This was the last measure, it is believed, the 
pious father suggested to save from ruin, and place 
upon a firm foundation, an institution which had 
been so long the object of his constant and prayer- 
ful solicitude, and the prosperity of which he view- 
ed as intimately connected with the prosperity of 
the Church, and the glory of the Redeemer's king- 
dom ; — and this last measure he had the pleasure 
to see adopted, and crowned, under the Divine 
blessing, with the desired success. 

In 1822, it was represented to the General Sy- 
nod, that certain individuals, members of the 
Church, were persuaded " that one hundred sub- 
scribers might be obtained for $250 each, for the 
purpose of endowing a professorship in the Theo- 



454 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



logical College ;" and a committee was according- 
ly appointed to solicit subscriptions to the object, 
who prosecuted the work assigned them, with great 
diligence and zeal. The Doctor opened the sub- 
scription-list with his own name, for $500, and 
at the next meeting of Synod, it appeared that a 
sum sufficient for the purpose specified had been 
subscribed in the southern section of the Church. 

Persons were then appointed to endeavour to 
procure subscriptions in the Synod of Albany, for 
the endowment of a third professorship, and the 
liberality of this part of the Church proved in the 
end fully adequate to the object contemplated. But 
the Doctor himself saw only" the auspicious com- 
mencement of this second enterprise in the good 
cause. — He had seen enough, however, to con- 
vince him that the cause had triumphed, — that this 
school of the prophets, would no longer subsist up- 
on a scanty and precarious charity, but would be 
henceforth amply supported, and remain for ages 
to come, a fountain, whence should issue streams to 
make glad the city of God. His expectations^ 
therefore were not finally disappointed, and he could 
now go down to the grave, assured that he had not 
laboured in vain. — As a courageous, persevering, 
skilful commander, falls upon the field of combat ; 
—when, after many arduous struggles — after many 



XE W-BRUN S WI C K . 



455 



disheartening repulses — after trying'to no purpose, 
apparently, all plans which his ingenuity could de- 
vise for accomplishing his object ; — when, hoping 
against hope — ready to give up all as lost, and just 
at the point of death, he hears at last the thrilling 
shout of victory, and exclaims, J can depart in peace, 
all is well.* 



* Since the death of Dr. Livingston, the literary exercises of 
the institution, (now called Rutgers College, in honour of a distin- 
guished citizen of New- York, well known for his patriotism, piety, 
and munificence) have been revived by the General Synod ; and 
under the auspices of the pious and learned Dr. Milledoler, the Pre- 
sident and Divinity-Professor, and of his two able colleagues, Drs 
John Dewitt,and James S.Cannon, (appointed a professor in 1826) 
with their associates, a professor of languages, and a professor of 
mathematics, both highly distinguished for their talents and com- 
petency in their respective departments, the institution is rapidly 
gaining a rank among the most celebrated schools in the country. 
It ought not to be forgotten, however, that for this revival of the 
College, the Church is indebted, in no small degree, to the talents 
and enterprise of the late Rev. Dr. Selah S. Woodhull — a man 
whom, in point of energy of mind, and zeal and perseverance in 
the prosecution of whatever he undertook, few excelled, and 
whose vigorous exertions in behalf of the college, during the short 
period he was connected with it, as well as his many able services 
in the church for a series of years, ought not to be left unnoticed 
in this Memoir. And the writer, having thus mentioned the name 
of one who was a bosom friend — a name he never can mention 
without very tender emotions — will embrace this opportunity to 
give a brief sketch of his short but useful life. 



456 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



It was said in a former chapter, that the Doctor 
patronised some benevolent and religious soci- 



Dr. Woodhull was born in New- York, Aug. 4, 1786. Both his 
parents died when he was quite young ; but, though only 12 years 
of age at the decease of his father, he was then a member of the 
Freshman class of Columbia College. Upon his father's death, 
he was removed to Yale College, New-Haven, and there he com- 
pleted his collegiate education. Soon after he was graduated, he 
commenced the study of the ology under the direction of his uncle, 
the Rev. Dr. John Woodhull, of Freehold, N. J.— and such was the 
precocity of his mind, and such his proficieney in his professional 
studies, that he was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presby- 
tery of New-Brunswick, when but in his nineteenth year. His 
first settlement as a Pastor, which took place shortly after he had 
received licensure, was in the Presbyterian Church at Bound- 
brook, N. J.; — but when he had been here about a year, he was. 
called to succeed the Rev. J. B. Johnson, who had died a short 
time before, in the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn, L. I- 
and the charge of this flock he assumed in the fall of 1806. — Ha- 
ving a singular capacity for business, he became in a little time 
a very prominent and useful member of the Judicatories of the 
Church : in almost all the important arrangements which were 
made with respect to the Theological School, after its removal to 
New-Brunswick, he had his share of duty to perform, and he per- 
formed it in a manner that recommended him to general respect 
and confidence. For many years he was the able and indefatiga- 
ble Secretary of the American Bible Society, for Domestic Cor- 
respondence. 

Upon the endowment of the third professorship, and revival of 
the college, he was appointed Professor of Ecclesiastical History, 
Church Government, and Pastoral Theology, in the Theological 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



45? 



eties : it ought to be further stated here, that 
about the time of his removing to New-Bruns^ 



Seminary, and of Metaphysics, and the Philosophy of the Human 
Mind, in the College. These appointments he accepted ; and 
having resigned his pastoral charge, and the office he held in the 
Bible Society, he removed to NW- Brunswick in the autumn of 
1825. For the business now assigned him, in Providence, he 
was well qualified, and he entered upon it with an ardour and dilL 
gence, that excited great hopes of his future usefulness ; but these 
hopes were soon extinguished in his sudden removal by death, on 
the 27th of the following February. He died of a prevailing 
epidemic, in the fortieth year of his age — greatly and deservedly 
lamented* 

The congregation of Brooklyn, which he had served for nine* 
teen years, in the Gospel, evinced at his death, by a liberal gra- 
tuity to his widow, the sense they entertained of his ministerial 
faithfulness to them while he was their pastor, and their affection- 
ate regard for his memory ; — and the General Synod, when con- 
vened in extra-session, in consequence of the event, passed the 
following resolutions : — "This Synod resolve, that while they hum- 
bly submit to the inscrutable Providence, which has so soon and 
so suddenly called him away from those important stations, in 
the prime of life, and in the midst of the fairest prospects of user 
fulness, they cannot but lament, and they do deeply lament, the 
loss which the Institution and the Church have sustained in his 
death. And as the piety, talents, and acquirements of one so 
highly valued, justly claim some public token of respect, this 
Synod further resolve — To have placed over the grave of Pro* 
fessor Woodhull, a neat, plain monument, with a suitable inscrip- 
tion, commemorative of his character and worth."— This latter 
resolve has been executed, and the inscription upon the&torft 
reads thus : — 

58 



458 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



wick, he was elected a member of the Free School 
Society of New- York, and subsequently one of the 
Vice-Presidents of the United Foreign Missionary 
Society— of the United Domestic Missionary Soci- 
ety—and of the Missionary Society of the Reform- 
ed Dutch Church. 

Relative to the Dutch M. Society, he thus ex- 
pressed his sentiments in a letter to his friend, dated 



To the Memory 
of the 

Rev. SELAH S. WOODHULL, D. D. 
Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Church Government, and 
Pastoral Theology, in the Theological Seminary of the 
Reformed Dutch Church ; and of Metaphysics 
and the Philosophy of the Human Mind, in 

Rutgers' College. 
For nineteen years, he was the acceptable 
Pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church, in Brooklyn. 
November, 1825, he entered upon his Professoral Labours, 

and 

Died the following February, on the 27th day of the Month, in the 
Fortieth year of his age. 
Respected for his Learning, Piety, Industry, and Zeal, 
His sudden removal from these important Stations, is deeply 
lamented. As a tribute to his worth, 
This Tablet 
is affectionately inscribed, 
By an unanimous vote of the General Synod of the 
Reformed Dutch Church. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK* 



459 



January, 29th, 1822, shortly after its formation i 
"When I read your last very acceptable and affec° 
tionate letter, I was under the impression that you 
intended soon to write again, and explain more 
minutely the constitution and the contemplated 
operation of the Missionary Society you have 
lately organized, and for this I have waited, But 
it seems I was mistaken, and I cannot postpone 
any longer to thank you for the communication, and 
to express my cordial concurrence in what has 
been done. While all the orthodox Churches are 
constituent parts of the one great family of which 
our Divine Redeemer is the glorious Head and 
Lord, each denomination is under the most impe- 
rious obligation, to make the most strenuous exer- 
tions to promote his cause ; and it seems this can 
be most effectually promoted by uniting their dis- 
tinct efforts and resources, each in their own dis 
tricts, but all subservient to the same end, with 
mutual love and fraternal confidence, without dis- 
sension, opposition, or discord. It is evidently 
upon these principles you have proceeded in form- 
ing a Society, which will be subservient to the 
common interests of the Gospel, while it will be 
under a control, which we are persuaded will in- 
sure the prevalence of sound doctrines, and enlarge 
the boundaries of our beloved Church. I very sin- 
cerely acquiesce in what you have done, and thank 
you for the place you have given me in the divect&gfy 



4m 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



and very cheerfully assure you, that I shall be happy 
to promote its success, to the utmost of my power."* 



* This useful Society was formed through the exertions of the 
late Rev. Paschal N. Strong, one of the pastors of the Collegiate 
Dutch Churches in New-York,-— a young clergyman of more than 
ordinary talent, and a zealous friend of the church. 

Mr. Strong was born on Long Island, February 16, 1763 ; and 
was educated in Columbia College, New-York. In the spring of 
1815, he was licensed to preach the Gospel ; and July 14, 1816, 
he was ordained, and installed as one of the collegiate pastors of 
tjie Church of New- York. In this station he continued to labour, 
until arrested by the hand of death. He died in the island of St. 
Croix, whither he had gone in pursuit of health, -April 7, 1825, of 
a pulmonary disease. 

The following notice of his character is taken from the conclu- 
sion of a sermon, preached on the occasion of his death, by the 
Rev. Dr. Knox, one of his colleagues. 

" His disposition was amiable. He was tenderly attached 
to his family. His manners were courteous. His spirit was reso- 
lute and generous almost to a fault. His mind was gifted in more 
than an ordinary degree ; and his opportunities of improvement 
were not neglected. With a memory peculiarly tenacious, 
and the power of precise and accurate discrimination, for one of 
his years, his attainments, especially in classical and critical 
learning, may, without exaggeration, be pronounced eminent In 
scholarship he excelled, and critical research was with him a 
favourite employment." 

" He wrote with elegance and force. His discourses were 
clear? accurate, and tasteful ; his style copious and adorned ; his 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



m 



The American Bible Society, moreover, and the 
Society for Meliorating the Condition of the Jews, 
and others, designed to do good in some way, 
which it is not necessary to specify, numbered him 
among their supporters. 

To the important object of the Society last named, 
he was a decided and zealous friend, but his views 
of the measures which ought to be pursued in order 
to attain it, differed materially from those of a majo- 
rity of the Directors, who then contemplated, as they 
still do, the establishment of a colony of converted 
Jews in this country. Upon this subject, he address- 
ed a long letter to the President of the Society, the 
late Peter Wilson, LL. D. dated July 24th, 1823, 
in which he took a luminous view of the whole ques- 
tion relative to the best plan for meliorating the con- 
dition of the Jews, and advanced many cogent ar- 
guments to prove the inexpediency not only, but 
even the infeasibility of the one proposed ; and this 
letter, though written when in the 78th year of his 
age, it is presumed, will be generally considered a 
production of distinguished ability.* 

A number of facts have been related already, 

voice melodious ; his enunciation easy and natural ; his preach- 
ing evangelical and faithful." 

* The letter was published a short time since in the Magazine 
of the R. D. Church, 



462 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



which have, doubtless, induced in the mind of the 
reader a very favourable opinion of the Doctor's 
personal piety. Toward the close of his long and 
useful life, it is proper to observe, that he seemed 
habitually to converse in heaven, to forget things 
which were behind, and to reach forth unto eternal 
things in prospect, with increased ardour.* In his 
ordinary intercourse with his friends, and in almost 
all his epistolary correspondence of the time, there 
was that to be seen, which indicated a highly devo- 
tional frame of spirit, and great readiness to depart 
and be with Christ. 

" My health within some time past," he said in one 
letter, " is greatly advanced. I feel free from those 
complaints which, during the past year, have distress- 
ed me ; and my soul is engaged, more than ever 
before, to redeem the time which with me is short * 
to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of my bless- 
ed Lord and Saviour, and to finish my course with 
joy, and increased faithfulness and usefulness." In 
another — "For myselt I feel great tranquillity 
respecting the issue. My course is proba- 
bly nearly finished, and I expect and hope soon 
to change my trials and tears, my sighs and conflicts, 
for high hallelujahs and perpetual praises." And 
in another — "My health is gradually becoming 



* Phil 3. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



46S 



better and more confirmed, yet I feel very feeble, 
and am not yet restored to my former vigour- Per- 
haps I never shall be. It is all right. I have had 
a long day, and a good day ; and if at evening time 
it shall be lights the mercy will be great, and I shall 
commit my departing spirit into his hand, who has 
redeemed me, without distracting fears or unbe- 
lieving doubts." 

An additional evidence of this heavenly temper 
of mind, is given in the following memorandum, 
found among his private papers, — " May 30, 1823, 
My-birth day. I was born May 19, Old Style, 1746, 
and am this day seventy-seven years old. I have 
upon this solemn, and to me, very interesting period, 
set apart the day for fasting, and prayer, and thanks- 
giving." 

" After renewing my covenant with God my Re- 
deemer, with deep humiliation and repentance, my 
soul found peace, and I was helped to cast all my 
burthens upon the Lord, and hope in his salvation. 
I have never passed a day with equal fervency of 
devotion, and my exercises closed with a pointed 
application of the precious promise, Hosea xiv, 4. 
I will heal their backslidings, I will love them free- 
ly : for mine anger is turned away from him." 



f 



464 



NEW-BRUNSWICK, 



"I know whom I have believed, and am persua- 
ded that he is able to keep that which I have com- 
mitted unto him, against that day. I enter upon my 
seventy-eighth year with humble faith, and hope* 
and love." 

For another year, it pleased the great Head of 
the Church to preserve the health of his servant, 
and to permit him to continue his useful labours. 
The Board of Superintendents, in their report upon 
the state of the School, for the year ending with 
May, 1824, thus express themselves in part: — 
" We rejoice with thankful hearts, in being enabled 
to state to General Synod, that, under the smiles of 
a gracious Providence, the Theological College 
has been kept in successful operation through 
another year, and the prescribed course of instruc- 
tion has been regularly, diligently, and successfully 
pursued. Through divine mercy, the life of our 
venerable senior Professor has been spared, and so 
firm has his health been, that, in his seventy-eighth 
year, he has been enabled to attend to every lec- 
ture in its season, without feeling it to be a burden * 
nay, with the alacrity and delight which ordinarily 
belong to much earlier life." 

His health remained after this uniformly good. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



465 



until about the commencement of the following 
year. — He then, in a letter to his son of Ja- 
nuary 6th, 1825, complained of some indisposi- 
tion, but did not apprehend it to be of a serious 
nature : — " For several days past, I have had, at 
times, a pain in my left side, which is frequently 
severe, and afterwards less violent. To what cause 
to attribute it, or what name to give it, I do not 
know : Dr. T — supposes it will require bleedings 
and he is to call this day for that purpose. It may 
be so : yet I am not fully convinced that the loss of 
blood would be beneficial. Old men do not need 
depleting ; but rather nourishment. From the 
symptoms of this pain, which is not always station- 
ary, but often moves, I am apt to think it is a rheu- 
matic affection. I never had the rheumatism until 
this winter, but it is now often very sharp ; and I 
think this pain in my side may be of that kind. 
The Lord, who has promised never to leave nor 
forsake me, will take care of me, and make this 
also to work for my good." 

" By a letter from New- York, I find that my 
old friend, Col. Rutgers, is sick, and old Mrs. Laidlie 
supposed to be dangerously ill. When my fellow- 
travellers are near their home, I cannot be very 
distant from it. I know whom I have believed, and 
whom I have served from my youth up ; and I am 

59 



« 



466 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



persuaded he will keep what I have committed to 
him." 

About a week after, and only a few days before 
his lamented decease, he addressed two more letters 
to his son, to testify his sympathy in the death of an 
infant member of the family ; and as it is probable 
they were the last the good man ever wrote, the 
compiler takes the liberty to present them entire. 

" New-Brunswick. Jan. ISth, 1825. 
* 6 My dear Son, 

" With tender love, and much sympathy, I as- 
sure you of my participation in your affliction and 
grief. O, if I were now with you, I would em- 
brace you both, and press you to my paternal bo- 
som. I would join my tears with yours : I would 
soothe your sorrows, and direct you to the precious 
fountain of substantial comfort, the only source of 
true consolation. He who wounds can also heal. 
Afflictions are dispensed for our good ; and if we see 
his hand, and with humble resignation adore and 
believe, they will ultimately become blessings.— 
He can, and he actually does, make all things 
work for good to them who love God, and serve 
him." 

;i When I received your letter of Saturday, (on 



4 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



4t>7 



Monday evening,) I was much alarmed, and waited 
anxiously for your next, which came to hand last 
night. While life remained, hope might be indulg- 
ed ; but the quinsy is a dreadful disease, especially 
to children, and I feared it would terminate, as it has 
done, fatally. 

" Sweet lamb ! Her sufferings were not as 
long as often is experienced ; but they have proved 
the means of her removal from a world of pains 
and sorrows; and she is translated to a better 
world, where there is no crying, nor death, but all is 
joy and rest, and everlasting and uninterrupted 
peace. I firmly believe that aE who die in infancy, 
before they are capable of actual sinning, are saved 
through, and by the Lord Jesus : — for those who 
have sinned ha mature age, bitter repentance, and 
firm faith, are indispensable." 

" She was an amiable and lovely child. All who 
knew her, bear this testimony of her'; — a sweet little 
angel ! — From our mutual distant residence, I am 
precluded from an intimate acquaintance, and have 
only seen them at their baptism. But I shall see 
little Sarah in glory." 

" Now, my dear children, mourn as Christians. 
When griefs roll heavily on ; when you seem to be 
sinking as in deep waters, attend to the sovereign 
command and affectionate exhortation of our bless 



468 NEW-BRUNSWICK. 

ed Lord Jesus. Go, says he, into your chamber, 
shut the door, and there in humble and fervent 
prayer, call upon your Heavenly Father ; and He 
who seeth in secret will reward you openly.— 
Pour out your hearts before God in prayer. He 
is a refuge and help to all who look to him, with 
broken hearts. The Lord will teach you to pray. 
—Read the 46th Psalm. It begins with faith and 
hope, and it closes v. 10, with the solemn exhor- 
tation . Be stilly and know thai I am God. Read 
also the 12th Chapter to the Hebrews. Both of 
you must read it with patience and attention. If 
the Holy Ghost enables you to understand and be- 
lieve that word, it will do your souls good. None 
but God can help and deliver you. To him you must 
come. He calls, and has long called you. Blessed be 
his name for the promise — that he who cometh, he 
imll in no wise cast out. " 

" I am glad to observe, that you had recovered 
from your late indisposition ; this was a tender 
mercy previous to your impending affliction." 

" I pray for you both very often every day. I 
bless you most tenderly, and wish to comfort you. 
The Lord spare the remainder of the dear flock, 
"Again, and again, I bless you, and 

am your loving father, 
« J. H. LIVINGSTON." 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



469 



" New-Brunswick, Jan. 15, 1825. 

" My dear Son, 

" The concluding solemnities are accomplish- 
ed. By your last letter, 1 see that the remains of 
our late dear little Sarah are deposited, where they 
will remain for ever, hidden from our view, until the 
trumpet of the great Archangel will summon all the 
dead to appear, and come to judgment. Then those 
who died in infancy will shine in the robes of the Re- 
deemer's righteousness ; and all of mature age will 
appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every 
one may receive the things done in the body, accord- 
ing to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 
2 Cor. v. 10. Then we must render an account for 
the talents we have improved, and for the talents 
we have buried and misimproved." 

" Awful day of solemn decision ! We cannot fly 
nor escape from God. Now is the day of salvation. 
The door of mercy is not yet shut. Afflictions are 
a call from God. Begin where you first departed. 
Return to him, and he will return to you. Fly 
to the Lord Jesus for refuge, and by repentance 
and faith, give yourself to the Divine Saviour, 
and you will find peace. Your troubled heart 
will rest, and he will help you, even in your 
temporal wants. You will never find rest nor 



470 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



comfort, nor deliverance, until you seek God in 
prayer, and come to Jesus." 

" I must constantly mention this to you, whether 
you understand or relish it or not, for there is no 
peace out of Christ, and you will find it so." 

" I know you now feel greatly afflicted. I help 
you, my dear child, to bear your burthens. I am 
afflicted with and for you, and most fervently pray 
that you may obtain grace to support and comfort 
you, under present as well as impending evils." 

" I am glad you have written to the dear boys, 
and communicated the mournful event to them. 
They will also feel much affected with our grief. 
Tell my dear F — that she must look to the Divine 
Redeemer. He will comfort her, and give peace 
to her mind. He hears us when we pray ; and 
when we read his word, he instructs us to know 
and feel its meaning. With the heart we believe 
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession 
is made unto salvation. The Lord, I hope and 
trust, will give her substantial consolation, and you 
will both experience his supporting grace, and 
sanctifying influence." 

" The winter has hitherto been remarkably 
mild. My health continues good, excepting the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



471 



pain I mentioned in my left side. It has in part 
subsided. I have not yet been bled for it ; it is not 
constant, but sometimes returns, especially when I 
speak much in my lectures, yet its continuance is 
not long." 

" Now my dear, my sweet, my beloved child- 
ren, I mourn with you. I help you to bear your bur- 
thens ; my heart and love are with you. I bless 
you both most tenderly, and all the precious flock, 
and am your loving father. 

" J. H. LIVINGSTON/' 

Between the date of this letter and the Thursday 
following, (the 20th) — on the morning of which day 
he was found sleeping in Jesus, — there was no 
visible change in the state of his health. During 
the most of the interim, he enjoyed apparently his 
usual strength and spirits, and on Wednesday, a 
more than ordinary degree of both, as was remarked 
by some of his friends. In the morning of this day ? 
he paid several visits ; when returned home, he de- 
livered a long lecture to the students upon the sub- 
ject of Divine Providence ; and the evening he 
spent in conversing with his reverend colleague, 
chiefly upon divine things, with a cheerfulness and 
life, which excited admiration.— After an interesting 
family exercise, in which he appeared to draw very 



472 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



near to God, and to remember every object dear to 
him, he retired to his chamber, making no com- 
plaint of indisposition ; but the next morning, at 
the time he was accustomed to perform the same 
duty, he was no more — his spirit had taken its flight, 
and mingled with the spirits of the just made per- 
fect, around the throne of the Lamb in Heaven. 
One of his little grand -sons, who had slept in the 
room with him, but had seen or heard nothing 
previously, to excite a suspicion of what had hap- 
pened, now called him, and said — " Grand Pa ! it is 
8 o'clock," but there was no response nor sign of his 
awaking. The family then became alarmed, and it 
was soon discovered that he had ceased to breathe. 
The precise moment at which he expired, could 
not of course be known ; but there was some rea- 
son to suppose, that the event had not taken place 
long, or more than an hour before that sad discovery 
was made. It should be added, moreover, that he 
lay as one in a sweet sleep. His perfectly compo- 
sed countenance — the natural position of his hands 
and feet — the unruffled state of the bed-clothes,— 
all told that his dissolution had been without a strug- 
gle, and without a pang. 

And in the manner of his removal, a persuasion 
which he had often expressed, that he should so de- 
part, was singularly verified. Till toward the 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



m 



close of his life, he had suffered much from a dread 
of the agonies of death : he was often troubled at 
the thought of the pain he would have to endure, 
when his soul should be breaking loose from her 
earthly tabernacle, and frequently prayed that he 
might be delivered from the distressing apprehen- 
sion. He was at length delivered from it ; and what 
was very remarkable, said afterwards, more than 
once, as we have been credibly informed, that when 
the hour for his departure should arrive, he believ- 
ed he would go off in a sudden and easy manner. 
So indeed he went off, as circumstances indicated : 
and, , 

"So fades a summer cloud away, 

So sinks a gale when storms are o'er ; 
So gently shuts the eye of day, 

So dies a wave along the shore." 

The next Sabbath, his remains were committed 
to the house appointed for all living, with suitable 
solemnities. The extreme unpleasantness of the 
weather at the time, and for a day or two before, no 
doubt prevented many living at a distance, from 
paying to them the last tribute of respect ; but there 
was, notwithstanding, a very numerous collection of 
persons from New-i ork and other places, to attend 
the funeral. 

60 



474 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



The following was the order of the procession :— 

1. Clerg} of New-Brunswick, of all denomina- 

tions. 

2. Corpse and pall-bearers. 

3. Relatives. 

4. The surviving Professor, and the Students 

of the Seminary. 

5. The intimate friends of the deceased. 

6. The Theological Professors of the Prince- 

ton Seminary. 

7. Clergy. 

8. Physicians. 

9. Citizens generally. 

The corpse was taken into the Dutch Church 
during the performance of a service, appropriate to 
the solemn occasion, by the Rev. Dr. Milledoler 5 
and was then interred. 

On the following Sabbath, a number of pulpits 
were hung with mourning ; and in several Churches 
in the connexion, funeral sermons were preach- 
ed, some of which were afterwards published.* 



* The Sermons published were those of the Rev. Dr. De Witt, 
of New-Brunswick ; the Rev. Mr. N. J. Marselus, of Green- 
^ieh, New-York ; and the Rev. Mr. (now Doctor) C. C. Cuyler, 
o'f Peu^hkeepsie. 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



475 



On the 16th of February, 1825, the General Sy- 
nod of the Reformed Dutch Church, convened in 
Extra Session at Albany, when the following reso- 
lution, relative to the death of Professor Livingston, 
was unanimously adopted. 

46 Whereas it has pleased the great Head of the 
Church, to remove by death, on the 20th of Ja- 
nuary last, our late venerable friend and father 
in the Lord, the Rev. John H. Livingston, D. D. S* 
T. P. in the 79th year of his age, the 55th of his mi- 
nistry, and 41st of his labours, as Professor of The- 
ology ; this Synod, deeply impressed with the sen^ 
timent, that believers, and especially able and 
faithful ministers of the Gospel, are the salt of the 
earth ; and that it is a Christian duty to lament their 
loss, and cherish their memory, —do resolve, that 
they deeply lament the providence which has re- 
moved a man, greatly beloved and highly useful ; — 
that they desire, in humble submission, to be still, 
and know that God hath done it ; — that they bless 
the God of Israel, who hath spared him so long, 
made him so eminently useful, and given him so 
easy and happy a passage to the kingdom of glory, 
full of years, full of honours, and full of faith : — that 
they will ever cherish the most respectful and 
affectionate regard for a name and memory so dear." 

Pursuant to another Resolution of the same 



47ti 



NEW-BRUNSWICK. 



Synod, a monumental stone was subsequently 
erected over the grave of the professor, with this 
inscription in the Latin and English languages. 

Sacred 
To the Memory 
of the 

Rev. JOHN H. LIVINGSTON, D. D. S. T. P. 
Born at Poughkeepsie, State of New- York, May 30th 1746. 
Educated for the Ministry at the University of Utrecht, in Holland. 
Called to the pastoral office of the Reformed Dutch Church 
in New-York, 1770. 
Appointed by the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church 

in America, their Professor of Didactic and Polemic 
Theology in 1784. And elected to the Presidency of Queen's 

College, New- Jersey, in 1810. 
There, in performance of the duties of his office, and blessed in 
the enjoyment of mental energy, high reputation, and dis- 
tinguished usefulness, he suddenly, but sweetly fell 
asleep in Jesus, January 20th, 1825, in the 79th 
year of his age, the 55th of his Ministry, and 
the 41st of his Professoral labours. 
In Him, 

With dignified appearance, extensive erudition, almost unrivalled 
talents as a sacred orator and professor, were blended manners 
polished, candid, and attractive, all ennobled by that entire devo- 
tion to his Saviour, which became such a servant to yield to such 

a Master. 

In token of their gratitude for his services, and veneration 
for his memory, the General Synod have ordered this Monu- 
mental Stone to be erected. 



CHAPTER. X. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

When any attempt is made to portray the ex- 
cellencies of one who was great and useful in his 
day, it is too often supposed to imply a design to 
set him forth as a perfect character. How much 
of malevolence or benevolence ; — how much of 
pride or humility, the supposition betokens, it 
is not the province of the writer to determine. 
The fact, nevertheless, is unquestionable, that a 
biographical representation of departed worth, is 
often viewed with suspicion, and often fails of 
magnifying the grace of God, or inciting to imita- 
tion, through the gratuitous insinuation, thrown 
out, perhaps, with an air of wounded pious feeling, 
that no person on this side heaven can attain to 
such faith and such virtue, as have been imputed to 
the subject of the Memoir. — Failings and foibles, as 
well as the most estimable qualities, must be found 
distinctly and strongly described, or the portrait 
which is drawn will be pronounced by some a mere 
caricature. But, it certainly cannot be necessary, 
nor is it generally expected, that in a work of this 
nature, imperfections of character shall be care- 



478 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



fully depicted. De mortuis nil nisi bonum> is a rule 
which a biographer may at least measurably follow, 
without exposing himself to disingenuous censure. 
It is well known, that there never was a man with- 
out a weak side — without some things about him 
which showed him to be a descendant of apostate 
Adam ; and, if defects be slightly touched upon, or 
even entirely passed over, it cannot, for a moment, 
be seriously thought to have been intended thus to 
make the reader believe that none had existed. 

It must not be imagiued, however, from these 
remarks, that the writer shrinks, or is at all dispos- 
ed to shrink, from noticing any points of imperfec- 
tion which were visible in him, whose character he 
is now to sketch : — his object in making them was, 
not to produce such an impression, for he means to 
endeavour to sketch the character to the life, but 
to abash, if possible, that carping spirit which seeks, 
by unworthy insinuations, to diminish the regard 
for departed pious excellence ; — to protest against 
that summary way of depressing, in the opinion of 
others, the representation of a good man, which is 
but too common, by saying it is redundant in some 
of its parts, and defective in others, merely because 
there are not among the amiable lineaments of the 
same, some very prominent ill-favoured features, 
to shoiv that he was but a man, — Let rather the faith. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



47^ 



and patience, and godliness of one, who was a faith- 
ful follower of Christ here, and now inherits the 
promises, be fully presented to view, and let them 
have the effect to induce others to tread in his steps, 
without being counteracted by those illiberal 
observations, which proceed from ignorance or 
malice. 

It is not pretended that the subject of this Me- 
moir had attained unto the measure of perfection, in 
the divine life ; but he was, notwithstanding, an 
eminently devout Christian, who followed hard after 
God, and whose course, was one uniform, bright, 
reviving display of the happy influence of divine 
grace upon his heart. He had his infirnuties; but, 
as the author of the Life of Dr. Rodgers says of 
those of that venerable man of God, " They were 
spots in a luminary of full-orbed excellence ; and 
no one was more ready than himself to acknow- 
ledge, that he was a miserable sinner, and that 
his proper place was at the foot-stool of Divine 
mercy." 

Dr. Livingston was a tall and well-formed man, 
of a grave and intelligent countenance, of an easy 
and polite air. He dressed usually in the ancient 
clerical fashion, and there was that in his appear- 
ance altogether, which strongly marked the eleva- 



480 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



tion of his character, and could hardly fail to con- 
vince, even a stranger, upon merely passing him in 
the street, that he was a person who had more than 
ordinary claims to attention and respect. A be- 
holder might, at a first glance, have thought he 
could recognise some pride in him, and a gentle- 
man, who seemed to be acquainted with him, was 
once overheard to speak of him to another, as he ac- 
cidentally attracted their notice, in this manner : 
" That's the proudest man and the humblest man ; 
the politest gentleman, and the greatest Christian,! 
know." There was much truth in the description ; 
but it is not believed that the Doctor cherished an 
inordinate self-esteem, if the speaker intended to 
imply this in the use of the first epithet, or if such an 
impression was ever produced by a transient look 
at him. He had, it is not denied, a laudable pride. 
He was proud of his profession ; proud of his 
Church; proud of his Theological Institution ; and 
he knew well how to maintain the dignity of his 
official character as an ambassador of Christ, at all 
times, and in all places. Such a pride, as consisted 
in a consciousness of what was becoming himself, and 
due to himself, it is cheerfully admitted that he 
possessed, and that was a noble characteristic ; 
but no one could show less of the pharisaical spirit, 
which says — " Stand by thyself, for I am holier 
than thou ; " — and no one could exhibit in his 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



481 



habitual deportment towards others, even of the 
lowest estate, especially if they were disciples of 
Christ, a more kind, condescending, and affection- 
ate temper of heart. 

It was sometimes discoverable in conversation, 
as must be acknowledged, that the Doctor estimated 
highly the advantages of his foreign education. To 
hear him express his opinion of the merits of those 
distinguished divines, at whose feet he had placed 
himself when in Holland, one was half inclined to 
believe, that he thought all others mere novices in 
comparison, and that he greatly imder-rated the the- 
ological knowledge of his native land, which had not 
been obtained by its possessors in some of the cele- 
brated schools of Europe. — When it is consider- 
ed, however, that his Holland friends treated him, 
while he was a sojourner among them, with marked 
attention, and that he was a favourite with the pro- 
fessors of the University, from whom both before 
and after his return to America, he received very 
gratifying marks of respect, the manner in which he 
occasionally referred to the instruction he had en- 
joyed, was certainly very excusable ; and the 
more so, as new and strange doctrines were almost 
daily issued from the press, which being frequent 
topics of discourse, naturally led him to recom- 
mend old divinity as the best, and to censure, in 

pretty strong terms, the insipience of modern times. 

61 



tS2 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

The Doctor was thought by some fond of praise, 
and there can be no doubt that a degree of praise, 
when apparently sincere, was pleasing to him' 
Who is not gratified with what he believes to be 
an honest expression of gratitude, approbation, or 
respect ? Flattery, a sensible and good man de- 
tests ; but he would be justly supposed to affect 
displeasure, who looked angrily, and behaved rude- 
ly, when commended for his performances or con- 
duct, by men of character and piety. Clergymen, 
amidst the discouragements which continually sur- 
round them, are not a little supported in their 
arduous and responsible work, by assurances of 
affectionate regard from those whom they serve in 
the Gospel. To know that their labours are accept- 
able and useful, the means of comforting and edi- 
fying the body of Christ ; or of arresting in their 
mad career, and bringing to repentance some daring 
rebels, if it be their heart's desire that souls may be 
saved, is a source of satisfaction, not of self-compla- 
cency, and inspires them with zeal in the discharge 
of their duties : and to be susceptible of such praise, 
argues nothing to the disparagement of the qualities, 
either of the understanding or heart. 

If the Doctor showed himself pleased with the 
kind professions which were occasionally made by 
his brethren and others, whose sincerity he could 
not doubt, he had too much genuine humility to 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



483 



relish, and too much penetration to be imposed 
upon by the extravagant or hypocritical compli- 
ment. The simple fact, that a compliment of this 
kind, if offered at any time, was not rudely reject- 
ed, is no proof that it was well received. There 
are few popular and great men, perhaps, who have 
not had their patience more or less tried by syco- 
phants, and been compelled often by concomitant 
circumstances, to yield a passive attention to what 
such persons had the face to say ; but it would 
certainly be the highest injustice to construe their 
silence, or even a degree of courteousness in them, 
when so situated, into a love of flattery. 

In the opinion of a few, the Doctor displayed 
too much of what may be termed the pride of years. 

He did not believe, it is granted, that young 
men, however respectable for talents, knew more 
than their fathers and predecessors in the Church : 
and it is granted further, that when any of his 
junior brethren urged sentiments which, in his view, 
tended to affect the doctrines or practice of the 
Church, with unbecoming confidence and zeal, 
he would treat the same as the sallies of puerility, 
rather than as the results of profound research and 
mature experience. The manner of an opponent in 
debate, would sometimes provoke him to a little 



434 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



piquancy of reply. Old age is entitled to great 
deference ; and nothing will sooner draw a severe 
animadversion from its lips, than bold and arrogant 
pretensions to superior knowledge on the part of 
those who are yet comparatively youthful. The 
Doctor was never known, it is believed, to be 
wanting in condescension, tenderness, and respect, 
to the very youngest of his brethren, when enga- 
ged in controversy with them, whether privately or 
publicly, if treated with that delicacy and com- 
plaisance, due to one of his age, character, and sta- 
tion ; and if ever his feelings were wounded by any 
incidental personal observations, a suitable acknow- 
ledgment instantly soothed them, and reinstated 
the offender in his affections. The truth is, young 
men are often very inconsiderate, nay, impolitely 
confident, when they happen to come in collision 
with their seniors in the discussion of a question ; 
and yet they themselves, as they advance in years, 
not unfrequently recede from the positions which 
they had once advocated with so much zeal, and 
confess that their fathers were wiser than they. 

One thing more deserves here a passing re- 
mark. There are those who surmise that the 
Doctor was rather of a covetous disposition. That 
he considered it a Christian duty to take care of his 
own ;— that he was somewhat exact in pecuniary 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



485 



transactions ; — that he was willing to receive a 
proper remuneration for ministerial or professoral 
services, will not be denied ; but did these facts 
positively indicate the indulgence of an inordinate 
desire for gain ? In his house, he was hospitable ; 
in benefactions to the poor, though he made no 
parade with them, few went beyond him ; and to 
benevolent or religious societies, he cheerfully gave 
of his substance. It would be an easy task to 
prove these assertions ; but if the reader will only 
recollect what has been stated in the course of the 
narrative, which has been given of his life, in rela- 
tion to his serving the Church as professor for 
many years gratuitously — to his removal to Long 
Island, in compliance with the request of the Synod, 
at the sacrifice voluntarily made, of the half of his 
ample support in the city — to his subsequent re- 
moval to New-Brunswick, at an advanced age, 
when the moneys subscribed for his maintenance 
there, were far from being sufficient for the purpose, 
and were yet in a precarious state — and to his own 
liberal subscription of #500 for the endowment of 
another professorship — if these facts be duly weigh- 
ed, there can be no hesitation in believing that he 
cherished a disposition, the very opposite of that 
which has been named — a noble generosity. 

Enough has now been said upon the subject of 



486 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



his infirmities, whether real or supposed ones : he 
certainly was not without some : he was himself 
very sensible of many, and bewailed their influ- 
ence, as has been already observed ; but amidst the 
assemblage of excellent qualities, intellectual and 
moral, for which he was distinguished, we think we 
can say with perfect truth, and without fear of con- 
tradiction, they were seldom so visible as to excite 
particular notice. 

The prominent features of the Doctor's charac- 
ter have been incidentally pointed out, in the pre- 
ceding account of his life, but it is proper that, in 
this chapter, they should be collectively and fully 
exhibited. 

Doctor Livingston was naturally of a mild and 
affectionate disposition. No one could be long in 
his company without discovering the kindness and 
tenderness of his heart: and while he was so easy 
and endearing in his manners, that the small as 
well as the great, the poor as well as the rich, felt 
quite at home in his presence, he was so polished 
and so dignified, that both were equally under that 
wholesome restraint, which effectually prevented 
the use of any improper freedoms, or impertinent 
and offensive behaviour. — In the reception and en- 
tertainment of his friends, to the very last, he dis. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER* 48? 



played the ardour and sprightliness of youth, and 
was attentive without unnecessary and irksome ce- 
remony, cheerful without levity, and communicative 
without repressing in the least that free interchange 
of remark, so essential to agreeable conversation. 
It was impossible that he should not be a leading 
person in every social circle ; but he assumed no 
overbearing air, to put others to silence, and fix the 
eyes of all upon himself : there was an urbanity 
about him, which, notwithstanding his evident su- 
periority, set at ease the thoughts and feelings of 
the plainest or humblest individual in the company, 
and invited him to take part in the conversation 
of the moment : and it ought to be added, that 
scarce any one had a better talent in giving to an 
occasional conversation, whatever might happen 
to be the subject of it, a profitable turn, or such a 
turn as was calculated to subserve the advance- 
ment of religion. He was, moreover, the tender 
husband — the affectionate father — the faithful 
friend. 

With that natural sweetness of disposition, and 
that engaging courteousness, which made him so 
captivating in the intercourse of private life, he 
possessed a finely endowed and cultivated mind. 
He was not distinguished, indeed, for fertility of 
imagination, or for originality and sublimity of 
thought ; but he had a sound, acute, discriminating. 



488 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER* 



comprehensive intellect — one of more than ordi- 
nary capacity and force, and well furnished with 
various and useful knowledge. His reading was 
extensive. He was a man of general science, and 
with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and 
the several branches of polite literature, he was in- 
timately acquainted. But in professional learning, 
he was unquestionably pre-eminent, and had scarce 
a compeer in the country. Theology was his fa- 
vourite study ; and whether he conversed with a 
few Christian friends in private, or preached, or 
lectured, he showed that he was deeply versed in 
the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, — that he 
was perfectly familiar with every part of revealed 
truth, and could illustrate and defend it with singu- 
lar ability, — that he had read, with great care, many 
of the best works upon every subject of theology, 
and thoroughly studied the Sacred Scriptures. And 
with all his various and profound learning, was 
connected a deep, experimental acquaintance with 
the power of saving grace. He was a divine 
taught of God : he was a Christian. 

Having taken this general view of his character, 
it may serve to render the impression of it upon 
the reader's mind more distinct and correct, to enu- 
merate and dwell a little upon a few other things, 
for which he was remarkable in the estimation of 
all who knew him, and which contributed, not less 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER.. 



489 



probably than those already mentioned, ta give 
him that distinguished place in public opinion, so 
long and so well maintained. 

And I. Doctor Livingston was eminently a man 

Of DISCRETION* 

Throughout the whole course of his public life, 
in trivial as well as the most important matters — in 
private intercourse, in ecclesiastical assemblies, and 
in the performance of pastoral or professoral 
duties, he discovered an extraordinary measure of 
sound practical wisdom. His circumspection, as 
to all he said or did, was by some indeed thought 
excessive, and to show constitutional timidity ; and 
it is possible that upon some occasions, he may 
have carried it too far, but the writer believes, 
nevertheless, that it proceeded from principle— 
from a desire to keep a conscience void of offence, 
both towards God and towards man ; — in other 
words, that he habitually felt the influence of the 
fear of God, and consulted the best interests of the 
Redeemer's Kingdom. — He certainly did not pos- 
sess that bold and adventurous spirit, which does not 
hesitate to encounter the greatest apparent dangers, 
or essays to bear down all opposition : yet it must 
be acknowledged, that he evinced no want of resolu- 
tion and courage in supporting the doctrines and 
discipline of the C hurch, or in prosecuting steadily, 

m 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



amid manifold discouragements and obstacles of a 
formidable nature, plans, the accomplishment of 
which, involved in his view, the future prosperity 
and welfare of the Church. In the discernment of 
characters, in seeing at once, or almost intuitively, 
what would be the consequences of the adoption of 
any proposed measure, and in suggesting the best 
means for effecting an important object, he was sur- 
passed by few: and however his discretion may have 
been sometimes, by prejudice and unfriendliness, 
misconstrued and misnamed, it was one of his most 
prominent virtues, and a virtue, without the exercise 
of which, in a very great degree, it may be confident- 
ly asserted he never could have succeeded, as he 
did, in terminating the celebrated quarrel that, at the 
commencement of his ministry, divided the Church. 
In the difficult situation in which he was then placed, 
and often afterwards, in circumstances of peculiar 
perplexity, he exhibited a moderation, a judgment, 
a prudence, which in their influence prevented, no 
doubt, the experience of many troubles, and led, as 
may be seen in the history of the school, to great 
and beneficial results. 

II. Another of the characteristics of this excel- 
lent man, was a decided and warm attachment to 
evangelical truth. 

He loved the doctrines, which are emphatically 
and properly styled the doctrines of grace, and he 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER, 



taught them, as they are revealed in the Gospel, 
pure and unadulterated, in all his pulpit discourses, 
professoral lectures, and more private catechetical 
or conversational instructions. Though not igno- 
rant of the idle and pernicious speculations, zeal- 
ously disseminated under one name or another, in 
every age of the Church, they constituted no part 
of his creed. He could not endure to see men 
pretending to be wiser than God, and attempting to 
explain away, or to entangle with frivolous and 
wicked inventions, doctrines above the comprehen- 
sion of finite minds, but clearly delivered in the 
Sacred Oracles. — He firmly believed in the depra- 
vity, helplessness, and ruin of our natural state, and 
that it is only by the interposition and death of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, that 
pardoning and saving mercy are extended to any 
of the lost children of Adam. He believed that 
the great and good Shepherd gave his life for the 
sheep ;* that he died the just for the unjust ;f and 
that the saints were from the beginning, chosen of 
God to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit 
and belief of the truth :i— or, to use the words of 
another apostle, are elect according to the fore- 
knowledge of God the Father, through sanctifica- 
tion of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling 
of the blood of Jesus Christ. || He believed that 



*John, 10. xi. f 1. Pet. 3. xviii. iThess. 2. xiii. (I 1 Pet. !. 2. 



492 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

the elect sinner is accepted as righteous in the 
sight of God, only through the finished righteous- 
ness of the dear Redeemer, imputed to him, and 
received by faith ; that his heart is renewed by the 
supernatural and irresistible influence of the Holy 
Ghost ; and that the work thus begun by omnipo- 
tent grace, is by the same grace carried on and 
completed ;* in other words, that he is kept by the 
power of God, through faith, unto salvation, f He 
believed in the necessity of practical godliness as 
the genuine fruit of living, saving faith ; and he 
further believed, that all who should be found desti- 
tute at last of that holiness which the Gospel re- 
quires, would be punished with everlasting destruc- 
tion, from the presence of the Lord, and from the 
glory of his power. ; The doctrine of salvation by 
grace, through the infinitely precious sacrifice of 
Christ, and all the truths connected with this 
grand article of the Gospel, he ardently embraced, 
and steadfastly maintained, as the Faith once de- 
livered to the saints : and it is not improbable that 
the preservation of orthodoxy in the Dutch Church 
is to be attributed, in no small degree, to the 
orthodoxy of him who, for so considerable a period, 
presided over her school of prophets, and who 
remained untainted and unshaken by the errors 
which have been so prevalent of late years. The 



* Phil. 1. vi. t 1, Pet. 1. 5. J 2. Thess. 1. 9. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



493 



full extent of the blessing enjoyed under such a 
man, when intrusted with the preparation of those 
who are to occupy the heights of Zion, and pro- 
claim the unsearchable riches of Christ to dying 
sinners, and following his labours when he sleeps 
in Jesus, cannot be easily estimated, — nay, cannot 
be known until that day, which is to make manifest 
every man's work. His doctrine dropped as the 
rain ; his speech distilled as the dew ; as the small 
rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon 
the grass.* And if it were possible to ascertain the 
benefit of his ministrations to the hundreds and 
thousands who enjoyed them, while he sustained 
the pastoral relation ; and that communicated far 
and wide under the ministrations of the hundred 
and twenty and more young men whom he quali- 
fied in the course of his professoral services, under 
God, for the sacred office, and some of whom are at 
this moment among the brightest ornaments of the 
Church, and conspicuous for their usefulness, it 
would be readily acknowledged, indeed, that God, 
in having given him to us — one so devoted to the 
truth — and in having spared him so long to instruct 
others in the truth, had highly favoured this por- 
tion of Zion. 

And it ought to be added here, that the doctrines 
he prized to such a degree, he taught with a pecu- 



* Deut. 32. 2. 



494 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



liar unction, simplicity, and force. When he 
preached, he commanded the deepest attention. 
His noble appearance, imposing action, singular but 
expressive gestures— graceful enough in him, how- 
ever awkward they would be in anotherperson — and 
the agreeable modulations of his voice, soft and 
tender, or grave and authoritative at his pleasure, 
fixed every eye upon him when he was in the pulpit, 
and opened every ear to catch what he might utter. 
But, apart from his interesting manner of preaching, 
his sermons were generally so well digested, and 
discovered such a knowledge of the human heart, 
and of the saving operations of divine grace, and 
were so richly fraught with evangelical sentiment, 
and contained so many searching appeals to the 
conscience, that he could not be heard with indif- 
ference or inattention. " His was not the icy 
coldness of speculative orthodoxy. His preaching 
was truly the utterance of the heart. Those who 
have listened to him in his happy moments of warm 
and impassioned elevation, have heard him pour 
forth the fulness of an affectionate spirit ; warning, 
alarming, inviting, persuading, beseeching ; his 
whole soul thrown into his countenance ; and in 
his penetrating eye, the fire of ardent zeal gleam- 
ing through the tears of benignity and love."* 



* Wardlaw's Memoir of Dr. Balfour. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



495 



The genuine exercises of a Christian he could 
portray with a masterly hand, and in healing the 
wounded spirit, strengthening the weak hands, en- 
lightening and encouraging those that walked in 
darkness, or were disquieted by a multitude of 
fears, his pulpit addresses, from time to time, were 
extensively owned of his Divine Master. It was 
his delight, in a word, to preach Christ, as the way, 
the truth, and the life, and to exhibit in all their im- 
portance and loveliness, the precious blessings pur- 
chased by the blood of the Cross : and many of his 
pious friends can recollect, no doubt, how natu- 
rally, and how affectingly oft-times, when descanting 
upon the riches of redeeming grace, he would 
relate what the Lord had done for his own soul. 

He usually preached, as has been remarked be- 
fore, from brief notes or skeletons ; and having a 
read}^ command of thought, and of suitable expres. 
sion in the discussion of his subject, what he de- 
livered, while it was methodical in its texture, was 
so perspicuous, so plain, so free from all scholastic 
starchness, as to be adapted to the capacity of the 
most illiterate of his hearers. 

And in teaching theology as a science, let it be 
observed, he was not less successful in presenting, 
in a familiar and impressive way, luminous exhibi- 



496 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



tions of the different parts of his own well-arranged 
system, so as to givehis students a clear and con- 
nected view of divine truth, and promote in them 
the cultivation of personal piety. He had, in fact* 
a peculiar talent in bringing his instructions within 
the comprehension of the dullest intellect, and of 
exciting in the heart correspondent devotional 
feelings. It is not surprising, therefore, that his 
preaching was popular and useful, and that his 
students have been found, in general, when they 
entered into the service of the sanctuary, tho- 
roughly indoctrinated, skilful in handling the word 
of righteousness, and engaging with a commend- 
able zeal in the great work to which they had been 
called. 

HI. This venerable man was remarkable for a 
certain captivating tenderness in his deportment 
towards young persons. 

Rarely, perhaps, is a pastor more respected and 
loved by the youth of his charge than Dr. Living- 
ston was by the juvenile part of his congregation, 
during his ministry in the city of New-York.— 
Whenever and wherever he met with any of these 
lambs of his flock, his attentions to them were of 
the most kind and winning nature. By calling them 
his children, by gently patting them upon the 



MIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 497 

head and blessing them, or saying a few words ex- 
pressive of Ins affectionate and pious concern for 
them, and by other similar acts of endearment, he 
gained their esteem and love, and made impres- 
sions upon their minds, which could not soon, or 
at any time after, be entirely forgotten, and which, 
through the divine blessing, it is believed, were the 
means of drawing a number to Christ. There are 
those now living, probably, who were his catechu- 
mens, some forty or fifty years ago, that cherish to 
this day a pleasing recollection of his paternal and 
insinuating manner among them, at the weekly re- 
citations of their catechism, and it may be, that a 
little of the seed then and there sown by him, may 
yet spring up and produce fruit to the glory of 
God. 

The same captivating, tender attention, he uni- 
formly showed to his students, or " dear young 
gentlemen," as he used to frequently style them : 
— he treated them as his children. When they 
visited him, he received them with gladness : when 
they took leave of him, be gave them a father's 
blessing, — In all his intercourse with them, he 
evinced, in different ways, the deep and earnest 
solicitude he felt to have them grow in grace, and 
become able and faithful ministers of the New Tes- 
tament. In reference to this fact, a respectable 



498 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER 



clergyman who studied theology under him, in a 
sermon preached upon the occasion of his death, 
and afterwards published, thus expresses himself :* 
" Nor is there so much as one, who has enjoyed 
the benefit of his instructions, but can testify with 
what affection and tenderness he often exhorted 
his students to cultivate personal religion, and 
growth in grace, to estimate duly the value of souls, 
to become well-grounded in the truth, to hold fast 
the form of sound words, and to contend earnestly 
for the faith once delivered to the saints. And 
frequently, in reference to those whom he had fit- 
ted for the ministry, would he use that declaration 
of the beloved Apostle — I have no greater joy than 
to hear that my children walk in the truth." 

IV. In contemplating the character of Doctor 
Livingston, the uniformly elevated state of his 
devotional feelings, claims a special notice. 

Estimable as he was in many other respects, this 
constituted his crowning excellence.- — A more 
lively disciple of the blessed Jesus than he was, is 
seldom to be found. His heart was ever full of 
Christ, and out of the abundance of his heart, his 
mouth spake. — The most common occurrences 



* The Rf>v. N. J. Marselus, of Greenwich? N. Y. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



499 



served to call forth from him some suitable expres- 
sions of the pious fervour of his soul ; — and no man 
could more happily, or more naturally, interweave 
with his discourse upon ordinary subjects, reflec- 
tions of a serious nature, 

One or two little incidents, illustrative of this 
trait in his character, it may not be amiss to relate. 

The Doctor and the Ex-King of * * *.*,* 
happened once to be fellow-passengers, with many 
others, on board of one of the North River steam- 
boats. As the Doctor was early in the morning, 
walking the deck, and gazing at the refulgence of 
the rising sun, which appeared to him unusually 
attractive, he passed near the distinguished stranger* 
and stopping for a moment, accosted him thus : 
" How glorious, Sir, is that object -pointing 
gracefully with his hand to the sun : — The stran- 
ger assenting, he immediately added, " And how 
much more glorious, Sir, must be its Maker, the 
Sun of righteousness ? " — A gentleman, who over- 
heard this short, incidental conversation, being 
acquainted with both personages, now introduced 
them to each other, and a few more remarks were 
interchanged. Shortly after, the Doctor again 
turned to the Ex-King, and with that air of polished 
complaisance, for which he was so remarkable, in- 



500 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



vited him first, and then the rest of the company, 
to attend a morning prayer. It is scarce necessary 
to add, that the invitation was promptly complied 
with. 

At another time, when the Doctor was journey- 
ing, he invited his fellow-travellers to unite with 
him in an address to the throne of grace. — One of 
them, a lady, was much displeased at the invita- 
tion, and refused to attend the exercise. From an 
adjoining apartment, however, she heard the 
good man's prayer, which made such a deep and 
lasting impression upon her mind, as ultimately in- 
duced the important inquiry, what must I do to be 
saved ? Some considerable time after the occur- 
rence, this lady, in a very splendid private car- 
riage, called to see the Doctor, at his house in the 
city. She had come on from the South, where she 
resided, for the purpose, it is presumed, of spending 
the summer in a more healthy climate. The Doc- 
tor did not recognise her at first ; but upon her re- 
lating, very minutely, the circumstances of her be- 
haviour at that accidental interview, he remember- 
ed her ; and great was his joy, now that he saw 
her a penitent sinner, and understood from her, that 
the prayer which she had despised, had been an- 
swered in her conversion. — A word in season, how 
good is it ! And how often might its goodness be 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER, 



501 



felt and seen, if every follower of Christ, and espe - 
cially every ambassador of Christ, would avail him- 
self of every suitable opportunity presented in pro- 
vidence, in conversation and prayer, to commend 
religion to sinners ! 

But it must not be supposed, that it was only 
when exposed to the observation of worldly per- 
sons, that the Doctor's demeanour was so consist- 
ent with his profession. He was the devout Chris- 
tian at home, as well as abroad. In his daily con- 
versation with the members of his family ; in ordina- 
ry intercourse with his friends ; in exchanging a 
few words with a person in the street ; in visits to 
the afflicted ; in private or official interviews with 
the students ; in all his correspondence, whether it 
was designed to promote friendship, or related 
simply to business ; in short, in all the different rela- 
tions and circumstances in which he could be seen, 
the fervour of his piety was seen likewise, in some 
seasonable and appropriate remarks, which had a 
savour of Christ in them. 

He loved his Bible. The testimonies of the 
Lord were his delight and his counsellors. He 
consulted them daily — not because it was necessa- 
ry for him to do so for professional purposes — for 
in him the Latin adage, Bonus texiuarius est bonus 
iheologm, was fully exemplified. He was a good 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



textuarist, well furnished with texts of Scripture 
to support all he taught, and with admirable ease 
and point, could he at any time employ the lan- 
guage of Scripture in common discourse ; — but 
that he might cultivate religion in his own heart. 
With this view, he regularly perused the Sacred 
Volume, and the fact was a strong proof of his sin- 
cere and ardent piety. The writer was one day 
in the Doctor's study, and taking up the Bible, to 
look at a certain passage, the venerable man put 
this question to him— -" Do you read that Book 
much?" — and then observed, c 6 It is a precious 
Book ; I read it every day, and though I have read 
it again and again, I never open it but I discover 
something new in it — something that had not occur- 
red to me before :" — and further, said he, " I find it 
very profitable, and it is my constant practice to 
select a part of what I have been reading, to en- 
gage my meditations through the day, when I have 
leisure." 

As another evidence of his eminent piety, it maj 
and ought to be stated, that he was habitually atten- 
tive to the duties of the closet. He was truly a 
man of prayer.— He spent, as a familiar friend of 
his has informed us, not less than two hours every 
day, including all his usual times of retirement, in 
the secret discharge of this important duty : and 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



503 



so constantly did he appear to be lifting up his soul 
to God, toward the close of his life, whenever he 
was alone, that one of his little grand children, who 
had closely observed him, said once to a female 
friend,—" Why Miss grand pa' prays seven- 
teen times a day !" The number was, doubtless, 
merely guessed at by the child, and must be under- 
stood as amplified much beyond the true one ; but 
the affirmation, nevertheless, will give some idea of 
the very intimate communion which, in this way, he 
maintained with God. 

Still further to illustrate the trait under consi- 
deration, it could be shown that he loved, sincerely 
and warmly loved, those of other denominations, 
whom he had any reason to believe knew and loved 
the Lord Jesus Christ ; but it is unnecessary to 
say more. 

And now, that it may be seen that too favour- 
able a representation of the general character of 
this venerable and excellent man has not been given 
in these pages, the author begs leave to lay before 
the reader some communications upon the sub- 
ject, which he has had the honour to receive from 
clergymen, of distinguished reputation in other 
churches, whose testimony he had requested. 



;)04 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



The following is extracted from a letter of the 
Rev. Robert Forrest, of the Associate Reformed 
Church. 

" My acquaintance with Dr. L. was chiefly con- 
fined to five years, from 1804 till 1809, when residing 
chiefly in his neighbourhood, I had frequent oppor- 
tunities of enjoying his society. * * As a theologian, 
his great fort lay in that which was systematical and 
practical. He had studied, with the utmost dili- 
gence, the writings of those distinguished men who 
reflected so much honour upon Holland and Geneva, 
during the 17th and the beginning of the 18th cent. 
It did not appear to me that Dr. L.'s talents qua- 
lified him to have been a successful controvertist ; 
but, in the faculty of illustrating the Christian sys- 
tem, and in exhibiting its spiritual and moral tenden- 
cies, for the instruction of theological students, or a 
Christian congregation, he certainly had few, if any 
superiors among his cotemporaries. In the devo- 
tional manner in which he illustrated the system of 
divinity, and the interest which he never failed to 
excite, he certainly far excelled (judging from their 
writings,) the divines of the Church of Holland. 
It appeared to me, that Dr. L. had a very respect- 
able acquaintance with the original languages of 
Scripture, as well as with History and Chronology." 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



505 



The venerable Dr. Ashbel Green, of Philadel- 
phia, in his letter thus expresses himself — 

" I had occasional intercourse with the late ve- 
nerable and reverend Doctor Livingston, for more 
than thirty years. Yet this intercourse was not 
frequent ; and I have often expressed regret, that I 
never had an opportunity to hear him deliver a ser- 
mon, or perform any public religious service. But 
I knew enough of him, not only from his public 
character, and the testimony of some of his pupils, 
and other intimate friends ; but from personal ob- 
servation, attentively made in a number of most 
gratifying interviews, to esteem him as one of the 
holiest of men, and most erudite divines of the age 
in which he lived. His fund of theological know- 
ledge was unusually great, and his method of com- 
municating it, even in common conversation, pe- 
culiarly happy and pleasing. There was, in his in- 
tercourse with his friends, a sustained dignity of de- 
meanour, united with a courteous, affectionate, and 
even familiar manner, such as I think I have never 
seen, in the same degree, in any other individual : 
and these qualities of the accomplished gentleman., 
received in him their highest charm, from a savour 
of genuine Christian piety, which seemed to ac- 
company all that he said or did. I seldom left his 
presence without finding that I had acquired some 



«>U$ HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

useful knowledge, and a stronger desire to make 
improvement in the Christian life. Such is, truly, 
my recollection and estimate of the great and 
good man, whose biography, I am glad to hear, is to 
be given to the public." 

The following is from the Rev. Jacob J. Jane- 
way, D. D. the late Professor of Didactic and 
Polemic Theology, in the Western Theological 
Seminary of the Presbyterian Church. 

"The name of the Rev. Dr. John H. Living- 
ston, I shall ever hold in affectionate and grate- 
ful remembrance. It was my happiness to sit un- 
der his instruction from my early years of boyhood, 
till I received my lisensure to preach the Gospel of 
Jesus Christ." 

4f No one could look at him without admiring the 
nobleness of his person. His presence was very 
commanding ; calculated to impress on the mind of 
beholders, a degree of reverence. His manners 
were polished and courtly. He was a real gentle- 
man, as well as a Christian divine. In his later years, 
when age had imparted additional dignity to him, 
his appearance was that of a venerable patriarch. 
He was very affectionate to his friends. In my 
last interview with hirn at his residence, a short 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 507 

time before his death, he, in consequence of an in- 
correct view of my conduct, supposed he had rea~ 
son to complain of inattention to his wishes, in re- 
gard to a matter that interested his feelings. Hav- 
ing administered a reproof, before I had opportu^ 
nity to explain, he subjoined, 'but I love you 
still.' This was one of the last expressions of afc 
fectionate regard, which it had been my happhfess 
and honour often to receive from him," 

" His colloquial powers were remarkable. He 
used them not for the purpose of attracting admir- 
ation, but in doing good. They, as well as all his 
intellectual faculties, were consecrated to the glory 
of his Master. Possessing^ in consequence of such 
a gift, a peculiar facility in addressing persons on 
the subject of religion, and giving to conversation 
a pious turn, he did not fail to embrace every suit* 
able opportunity for its best exercise. While pur- 
suing in Holland his preparatory studies for the 
ministry, his attention was one day attracted by a 
young man in the company in which he was dining, 
After dinner, he arose from his seat, and tapping 
the youth on the shoulder, invited him to walk 
with him in the garden. He drew his attention to 
the great subject of his religion, and endeavoured 
to awaken his conscience. The conversation was 
blessed, The young man became pious; and, like 



508 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



another Watts, he filled the country with psalms 
and hymns in praise of God." 

" Dr. L. was eminently pious and devout. He 
lived near to the throne of grace. His gift in 
prayer was great. He used a holy familiarity with 
God. He drew nigh to the mercy-seat with reve- 
rence ; but he pleaded with the freedom and con- 
fidence which a child uses with a parent, whom he 
reveres and loves. He once remarked, that the 
prayers of an advanced Christian are distinguished, 
not by going over the lofty titles of Jehovah, but 
by using the tender appellation of ' Father. ■ The 
encomium passed on one who was translated to 
heaven, without being subject to the pains of death, 
might truly be applied to him ; ' He walked with 
God.' Our venerable father was not, like the 
patriarch, translated bodily to heaven, yet the sepa- 
ration of his soul from his body was so easy, 
that he appears to have been exempted from the 
pains of dissolving nature. He fell asleep in Jesus." 

** Among the preachers of his day, Dr. L. held 
a distinguished rank. His discourses were at once 
doctrinal and practical ; instructive and experiment 
tal ; pungent and consoling. So familiar was he 
with divine truth, that he could preach in a profit- 
able manner, with little or no preparation. On one 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



509 



occasion, I heard him deliver, in the morning of 
the Sabbath, an excellent discourse on the provi- 
dence of God ; and afterwards he told me, he had 
selected his text while eating his breakfast, and said 
" these thoughts have passed through my mind an 
hundred times." Experienced Christians were 
particularly attracted to his ministry ; because he 
was able, from the rich treasury of his own Chris- 
tian experience of divine things, and intimate ac- 
quaintance with personal religion, to bring forth in 
all his discourses something for their edification." 

"It may not be generally known to those who can 
recollect the deep bass tones of his voice, that they 
were originally very different. He once told me, 
that his voice resembled that of the late venerable 
Doctor Rodgers ; it was treble in a high degree^ 
and in utterance required a painful exertion. He 
felt the necessity of changing it, and was induced 
to attempt it by the following circumstance. * I 
was,' said he 6 while in Holland, amusing myself 
one day with playing on a violin. I was struck in 
observing the distance to which the sound seemed 
to be conveyed, when the bass chord was touched. 
I tried it again, and from that moment determined 
to change my voice.' He succeeded." 

" Soon after his return from Holland, Dr. L. was 



Jli) 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



appointed to the office of Professor of Theology 
in the Reformed Dutch Church. For the duties of 
this office, when I had the advantage of attending 
his lectures, he was eminently qualified, and second 
to no man in this country. He was learned and 
extensively read in theological books, especially 
those written in the Dutch and Latin languages. 
With the Greek and Hebrew he was acquainted ; 
and so familiar with the Latin, that as he once in- 
formed me, while in Holland pursuing his studies, he 
used to dream in that language. At the time I 
prosecuted my preparatory studies, the Professor 
retained his pastoral relation to the Collegiate 
Churches in New-York ; and yet incumbered as he 
was with ministerial duty, he delivered during six 
months in the year, three lectures a week, and at- 
tended to the compositions of his students. His 
lectures were not written ; and during the delivery 
of them, he indulged us with the privilege of inter- 
rupting him by proposing questions, that occurred 
at the moment to our minds. Such interruptions 
occasioned no embarrassment to him. He kindly 
answered the inquiries, and then proceeded with his 
lecture. After his removal to New-Brunswick, and 
his entire devotion to the duties of his professor- 
ship, I cannot doubt that his lectures were much 
improved, and that his pupils enjoyed superior ad~ 
vantages," 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



511 



" Strong attachment to teachers, may render us 
partial to them. But much as I revere the me- 
mory of my late venerable preceptor in theology, I 
think I have written nothing but the truth ; and 
when I add, that he was a great and a good man, 
to whom the Reformed Dutch Church is much in- 
debted, I utter an encomium to which hundreds 
who knew Doctor Livingston, will cordially sub- 
join their testimony." 

" I wish I could pay a better tribute of praise 
to the talents, the worth, the excellence, and piety 
of one whose memory will always be dear to me. 
Such as it is, I submit it to your discretion, to be 
used in any way you please, for the honour of that 
venerable man, w ho deserves to be honoured ; and 
who, doubtless, has received from his Lord and 
Master, an honour far superior to any that mortals 
can record." 

Another communication from the pen of the 
Rev. Dr. Miller, Professor of Ecclesiastical His- 
tory and Church Government, in the Theological 
Seminary at Princeton, N. J. remains yet to be 
inserted, and it is in these words : 

" Rev. and dear Sir, 

" In attempting to comply with your request, 
that I would communicate to you my impressions 



512 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



of the character of the late truly excellent and 
venerable Professor Livingston, I experience 
mingled feelings of pleasure and embarrassment. 
Of pleasure, because I can never call to my re- 
collection, the image of that invaluable man and 
divine, without rejoicing that I ever knew him ; 
and because I consider it as a privilege to be favour- 
ed with an opportunity of making the humblest 
contribution toward embalming his memory. Of 
embarrassment, because it is difficult to divest my- 
self of the feeling, that for one so much his junior 
in age and standing, to appear as a witness of his 
worth, will be thought by some liable to the charge 
of presumption or vanity. Yet, as you call upon 
me, I will speak. And, as I belong to a different 
ecclesiastical denomination from that with which he 
was connected ; and as I never owed him any 
other obligations than those which his personal 
excellence, and the pleasure and instruction which 
I frequently derived from his conversation impos- 
ed, my testimony may, perhaps, be regarded as 
disinterested and impartial." 

" My acquaintance with Dr. Livingston began 
when he was far advanced in life, and when I was, 
I had almost said, in my clerical boyhood. On my 
first visit to New- York, in 1792, my friend, and my 
father's friend, and soon afterwards my colleague, 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 513 



the Rev. Dr. Rodgers, (whose name I can never 
mention, without associating with it some epithet 
of honour, and some emotion of filial affection,) in- 
troduced me to him as one whose acquaintance and 
friendship he deemed peculiarly worth cultivating. 
At my first interview with him, I was struck with 
his venerable and commanding figure ; his truly 
gentlemanly deportment ; his condescending kind- 
ness to the young and inexperienced ; his instruc- 
tive conversation ; his unusual familiarity with 
every thing relating to biblical and theological 
inquiries ; his deep spirituality ; and his evident 
disposition to encourage youthful candidates for the 
sacred office. And, although there was something 
in his manners which, at that time, impressed me 
rather unpleasantly, as characterized by a court- ■ 
liness, approaching to the pomp of formality ; yet 
the disagreeable impression from this source be- 
came less and less, as my acquaintance with him 
became more intimate ; until it was, at length, for- 
gotten amidst the predominant influence of his 
varied and rich excellence. From that time, until 
his death, I continued to seek and enjoy much in- 
tercourse with him ; and was called to act with 
him on a variety of interesting occasions. And, to 
the last, I am constrained to say, with a growing 
conviction of the value of his character, both as a 
friend and as a minister of Christ." 

65 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



" The characteristic of this venerable man, which 
most deeply impressed me at my first acquaintance 
with him, and which continued to deepen its im- 
pression on me, up to my last interview with him, 
was his ardent, habitual piety. I know not that I 
ever met with a man, whose daily and hourly con- 
versation indicated a mind more unremittingly de- 
vout, or more strongly marked with the exercises of 
the deeply experimental Christian. His manner, 
indeed, of conducting conversation on practical re* 
ligion, was his own, and would not have set well on 
maqy other men. Yet, I think, I never withdrew 
from his company, without carrying with me the im- 
pression, that I had been conversing with a man 
who walked moreby faith ; who was favoured with 
a larger measure of the assurance of hope ; and 
who enjoyed more intimate communion with God, 
than most even of those who are deemed fervently 
pious. So far as I had an opportunity of observ- 
ing, this characteristic of my friend appeared 
abroad and at home ; in the house and by the way ; 
in sitting down, and in rising up, with a constancy 
and prominence, which could not fail to convince 
every one that it was the inwrought habit of his 
mind." 

^ As a mature and accomplished theologian, Dr. 
Livingston was greatly and justly distinguished. Of 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. $M 

his eminent advantages for study in foreign uni- 
versities, he had richly availed himself. And I have 
seldom seen a divine who appeared more 'at home, 
in every species of theological and biblical dis- 
cussion, which could be started in his presence. I 
have witnessed instances of this, when it was mani- 
fest that the discussion was altogether unexpected 
to him, and when it was impossible he should have 
made any preparation for it, which, with all my 
previous respect for his attainments, greatly surpris- 
ed me. It sometimes appeared to me, indeed, that 
he had not been so careful to seek an intimate ac- 
quaintance with the later theological writers and 
biblical critics, as his early habits of diligent and in- 
quisitive study might have led one to anticipate. 
But with the best English and Dutch, and especial- 
ly with the best Latin writers on theology, both 
systematic and expository, who occupied the atten- 
tion of theological inquirers, at the date of his stu- 
dies in * * * * Utrecht, he had a depth and fa- 
miliarity of acquaintance, truly uncommon. It was, 
indeed, his opinion, that no one can be entitled to 
the character of a theologian, without being in 
some good degree familiar with the old systematic 
and topical writers of the Reformed Churches, 
who flourished on the continent of Europe in the six- 
teenth, seventeenth, and beginning of the eighteenth 
centuries. He thought there was an extent of 



dlQ HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

learning, and a vigour, depth, and completeness of 
discussion in their works, so remarkable, that no 
man ought to consider himself as having learned the 
substance of all that can be said for or against any 
given point in polemic theology, who is ignorant 
of what those distinguished men have written. I 
was never so happy as to hear or to read any of the 
lectures, delivered by Dr. Livingston from his offi- 
cial chair. But the unvarying testimony of those 
who had enjoyed the privilege, was not only deci- 
sively, but very strongly in favour of them, as mani- 
festing uncommon accuracy and maturity of theolo- 
gical knowledge. If, as I have often understood, 
they did not abound so much in references to the 
works and opinions of different divines, as might 
have been gratifying to some inquisitive listeners ; 
they indicated so much discrimination, judgment, 
and clearness, as to convince every hearer that he 
had read extensively and thought much, and was 
well qualified to instruct on every subject which 
he undertook to elucidate. " 

" As a preacher , our venerable departed friend, 
deservedly enjoyed a high reputation. He sel- 
dom or never, I believe, wrote his sermons fully 
out ; and very often, more especially towards the 
close of life, preached without writing at all. Hence 
lie was by no means remarkable for that terse. 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



517 



polished, rhetorical style of sermonizing, in which 
some distinguished preachers have succeeded so 
admirably. The great excellence of his preaching 
consisted rather in the solidity and excellence of 
the matter, than in the refinement of the manner. 
He was generally diffuse, and sometimes circuitous 
in his expositions and illustrations ; but generally 
rich in thought ; always solemn and experimen- 
tal ; sometimes in a high degree powerful ; and 
seldom failed to keep up, and to reward to the last, 
the attention of all classes of his hearers, especially 
of the more deeply pious. I have more than once 
heard him lament, that while so many preachers 
were well fitted to become instruments of awaken- 
ing, convincing, and converting the impenitent ; so 
few were well qualified to build up believers. He 
considered the gifts and graces peculiarly adapted 
to this department of ministerial work, are com- 
paratively rare, but inestimably precious. And 
although he did not claim these qualifications for 
himself ; yet, if I mistake not, he was regarded by 
others as possessing them, in a remarkable degree ; 
and as more strikingly adapted to build up the 
people of God in knowledge, holiness, and comfort, 
than to alarm the careless. His delivery in the 
pulpit always struck me as peculiar. There was 
a vivacity and a force about it, even in very advan- 
ced life, not often witnessed in the youngest preach- 



5lb 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



ers. To some, indeed, the amount of his gesture 
appeared to be excessive, But after hearing him 
a few times, it became so perfectly manifest that it 
was all natural to him, that it ceased to impress 
otherwise than agreeably." 

" This excellent man was a great enemy to me- 
taphysical and philosophical preaching ; and often 
remarked, that, if men even became real Christians 
under such preaching, they walked in trammels, 
and never seemed to enjoy the riches and simpli- 
city of the grace which is in Christ. He, therefore,, 
seldom employed much of human argument in his 
discourses. They consisted, almost exclusive!}', 
of plain, simple, Bible truth, in Bible language. 
And he seemed, especially toward the close of life, 
to have a conviction, every day increasing in depth 
and weight, that this method of preaching the 
Gospel, is the only one which promises to revive 
pure and undefiled religion, or to do much good to 
the souls of men. To adopt this conclusion and 
to act upon it, has ever been, 1 believe, the final 
result of the most enlightened wisdom, and the 
richest experience of the best ministers the Chris- 
tian Church has ever seen." 

ec The native powers of Dr. Livingston's mind, 
were clear, orderly, solid and vigorous ; rather 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 519 



adapted to investigation and instruction, than to 
dazzle or to astonish. In his physical tempera- 
ment, if I mistake not, he was cautious and timid, 
rather than bold. This feature in his character 
had, perhaps, an important influence on his whole 
history. It prevented his appearing more fre- 
quently before the public as an author, for which 
his few printed works shew him to have been well 
qualified. His sermon before the New- York Mis- 
sionary Society, is one of the few which will be in- 
quired for long after the occasion which gave it birth, 
has been forgotten. And his volume on the mar- 
riage of a Deceased Wife's Sister, which espouses 
the side of this question commonly taken by the 
majority of the orthodox, undoubtedly does honour 
both to the head and the heart of the writer. The 
natural temperament, above alluded to also, I have 
no doubt sometimes interfered with that decision 
and enterprise, which are so important to the high- 
est success of a minister of the Gospel." 

" Great decision and enterprise of character in an 
ecclesiastic, when guided by ambition, are, no 
doubt, equally criminal and mischievous ; but, 
when guided by Christian benevolence and disinte- 
rested zeal, lead to the happiest results. Eminent 
as the usefulness of this great and good man was, 
it. would probably have been still more eminent, 



520 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER, 



had he possessed a larger measure of those quali- 
ties, which fit their possessor to venture on difficult 
undertakings, and to encounter the most formidable 
opposition with untiring activity, and with calm 
fixedness of purpose. He was much better adap- 
ted to shine as the enlightened, pious, dignified, and 
revered head of a tranquil and flourishing institu- 
tion, than to cope with contentious spirits ; to har- 
monize jarring elements ; to wield the boisterous 
passions, and conciliate the conflicting plans of 
ardent partizans. Melancthon was probably as 
pious as Luther, and had, in some respects, quite 
as much talent and more learning. But he had 
less decision of character ; less power over the 
minds of men ; and less of that peculiar faculty, 
which appears to so much advantage in composing 
and uniting heterogeneous materials. For Lu- 
ther's mode of serving the Church, Dr. Livingston 
was not so peculiarly adapted as many men of in- 
ferior standing. His appropriate line was that 
which the great Head assigned to him ;— to train 
her rising ministry, and by his learning, his fervent 
piety, his Christian dignity, his prudence, and his 
retiring holy example, to prepare men to be 
heralds of that kingdom, which is 8 righteousness, 
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.' " 

" He was a great lover of peace ; and was ever 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



found the patron of peaceful measures, as far as 
this course could possibly be pursued without the 
abandonment of truth. To this, as I have already 
hinted, he was impelled by temperament as well as 
by principle. As he was not well qualified himself 
' to ride in the whirlwind, and direct the storm ;* so 
he regretted to find the spirit of controversy, or of 
theological or ecclesiastical innovation, reigning in 
any of his pupils, and never failed, as far as possi- 
ble, to repress it. He never appeared to me to 
have the least tincture of that spirit, which has ship- 
wrecked the faith and usefulness of many an inge- 
nious minister, and inflicted many a severe wound on 
the peace of the Church. I mean the spirit of fond- 
ness for novelties in doctrine or practice ; an ambi- 
tion to be hailed as the author of some original 
scheme. No man, perhaps, of his talent and learn- 
ing, ever loved more to ' inquire for the good old 
way,' and to * walk in the footsteps of the flock." 

" The social and domestic character of our depart- 
ed father, was peculiarly exemplary. Indeed, in 
his mode of discharging all the social and relative 
duties of life, there was a mixture of the tenderness 
and loftiness of Christian feeling and Christian prin- 
ciple, truly striking. In the shortest interview of 
friendship, business or ceremony, as well as in the 
most common offices of domestic affection, you 



532 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 



plainly saw that you were in the presence of a man 
who had seen much of the world ; whose feelings 
were habitually benevolent ; and in whose bosom 
the Christian character was predominant in every 
thing. 3 ' 

In fine, Dr. Livingston was one of a class of 
Ministers, who have now nearly passed away. 
They were emphatically of the * Old School.' In 
using this expression, I have no reference to any 
particular doctrines of theology ; though he himself 
often adverted with pleasure to this sense of the 
phrase, as applicable to his creed and preaching. 
But I refer to a certain style of deportment and of 
character, which, if I mistake not, was far more 
common forty or fifty years ago, than at the present 
day. The ministers alluded to, with endless di- 
versity in other respects, were remarkable for that 
pious gravity, dignity, and urbanity, which evinced 
that, in all situations and companies, they were mind- 
ful of their high calling, and under the influence of 
that wisdom, prudence, and spirituality, which are 
from above. They were no strangers to cheerful- 
ness, and were often even facetious and sportive. 
But their sportiveness was ever marked by Chris- 
tian dignity and delicacy. It was apparent that 
they respected themselves, and respected their 
office* They did not let themselves down in com- 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER, 



523 



pany by undue familiarity, by levity, by coarse or 
unseasonable anecdotes, or by a rude invasion of 
the feelings of others. And you never departed 
from the company of one of them, without being 
made to feel that you had been conversing with a 
man of God, who lived and acted for another and a 
better world. To this class of ministers belonged 
our late venerable friend. Wherever he appeared, 
he threw around him an influence which repress- 
ed frivolity, impiety s and profaneness. This he 
effected, not by an air of grimace or sanctimonious- 
ness ; not by moroseness or austerity ; but by that 
grave, elevated, apostolical style of manners, 
which all saw and felt, and before which profligacy, 
and even brutality, were awed into temporary 
decorum. Of this I have known instances, in his 
case, which if I were able to describe them with a 
graphic spirit, approaching to the manner in which 
they addressed themselves to the eye and ear,* 
when they occurred, would greatly instruct as well 
as amuse. But I cannot thus describe them, and 
shall not attempt it. There is so much in looks, 
tones, and gestures, which cannot be expressed in 
words, and which yet is deeply powerful, that you 
will readily understand why I shrink from the task." 

" Such impressive examples are extremely rare. 
At least they are rare among that portion of the 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 

Christian ministry in tfye United States, with which 
I am best acquainted. " I do not doubt, indeed^ 
that we have among the present race of evangelical 
ministers, as large an average amount of piety, zeal, 
and unwearied labour, as among any that ever 
adorned our country. But unless I am deceived, 
as ministers have multiplied in our country, that 
tone of official gravity and dignity which I have 
attempted to describe, which flows from a happy 
mixture of habitual seriousness, prudence, bene- 
volence, and the delicate perception of what is pro- 
per, and which is so much adapted to make both a 
pleasing and a useful popular impression, has been 
perceptibly reduced." 

" For the reasons of this fact, if it be a fact, I 
shall not, at present, attempt to inquire : yet I can 
neither doubt that it is so, nor forbear to lament it. 
When, therefore, I received the intelligence, that 
our venerable friend was no more, amidst the many 
tender and interesting emotions which filled my 
mind, I could not help regretting that one of the 
most truly respectable and commanding examples 
of the style of character to which I have referred, 
had departed from the view of the American 
Church." 

" But I am carried to an improper length, by my 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 525 

affection and veneration for this excellent man, and 
must stop. May that God whose he was, and 
whom he so faithfully served, preside over your 
undertaking, and enable you to form a memorial of 
his useful life, which shall be a rich blessing to the 
Church of Christ ! Nor can I form a more friendly 
wish for the Church, or for our beloved country, 
than that our theological seminaries may send 
forth, from year to year, many a herald of salvation, 
resembling him whose history you are charged 
with compiling." 

" If the foregoing hasty sketch should, in the 
least degree, subserve your purpose, it will give 
me cordial gratification. I regard it as equally an 
honour, and a pleasure, to record this testimony in 
favour of an eminently useful servant of Christ, 
whom I knew well ; whose memory I love to 
cherish ; and with whom I hope, by the grace of 
God, to be for ever united in a better world. 
" I am, my dear Sir, 
With very great regard, 

Your friend and brother in the Gospel, 
« SAMUEL MILLER, 
« Princeton, Nov. 15, 1828." 

After having submitted these ample testimonies, 
from sources so respectable, it may be thought 



52t> HIS GENERAL CHARACTER 

quite superfluous for the writer to add another 
word, and he will presume to make but a single 
remark more before he concludes the Memoir ; 
and that is, that this man of God, whose character he 
has endeavoured faithfully to exhibit, by divine grace, 
held on the even tenour of his way to the very last, 
with an unblemished reputation ; or it can be truly 
said of him, as it was once said of another,* " If the 
breath of slander ever touched him, it was like 
breathing on a mirror of steel ; — the dimness pass- 
ed away in an instant, leaving the polished surface 
brighter than before." And, indeed, one who mani- 
fested less of human depravity in his life* public 
and private, or more of those valuable gifts and 
graces, and more of that habitual and conscientious 
regard to things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, 
which constitute the foundation of extensive useful- 
ness, and of that good name that is better than 
precious ointment, has not been often seen. 

He is now to be seen no longer here below ; but 
the monuments of wisdom, piety, and zeal, which 
he has left behind, will, and must long, endear his 
memory to the Church. The remembrance of the 
name of John H. Livingston, and of the talents, 
the virtues, the services, the example of this much 



* Die Balfour 



r 



HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 52? 

loved and justly honoured servant of Christ, ivill be 
gratefully cherished. 

God, in whose hand it is to make great, and to 
give strength unto all, raised him up and qualified 
him to act so useful, responsible, and honourable a 
part in his day ; and the Church in whose com- 
munion he lived and died — having so great reason 
to remember him as a benefactor, as well as a 
burning and shining light while he lived, will cer- 
tainly give the glory to God and say — Now, there- 
fore, our God we thank Thee, and praise thy 
glorious name. 



end of the memoir. 



ERRATA. 



Page 16, for judgement, read judgment. 
198 for piety or ministerial gift, read piety or ministe- 
rial gifts. 
224 for prases, read prases. 

423 (in a few copies ) for Mpkonso Turretene, read 

Alphonsus Turretin. 



CONTENTS, 



CHAPTER I. 

Containing a short Account of his Ancestry, 



Page, 

Introductory Remarks, • ..*,» 13— -16 

His Great Great Grandfather, the Rev. John Living- 
ston, of Scotland,, 16 

The Ancestors of this eminent Servant of Christ, and 

Sketch of his Life 17— 30 

Converted, studies Theology, and preaches at the age 

of twenty-two, 17—19 

Preaches at Shotts, after a Communion, and at Holy- 
wood — Good Effects of these Sermons, 20 — 27 

Sails for America, to escape Persecution, and is 

driven back, 28 

Banished from Great-Britain, and flees to Holland, 29 

Settles, and dies in Rotterdam, 30 

Pious Ancestry honourable....... 30 — 32 

An Account of Robert; the son of John, and of his 

three sons, Philip, Robert and Gilbert, 33 — 34 

An Account of Henry, the son of Gilbert, and father 

of John H., 35 

CHAPTER II. 

From his Birth, till he formed the Resolution of devoting 
himself to the Ministry of the Gospel, 

Introductory Remarks,,..,,,, •«•«»••••»••*<><*«•>• 36-P-38 

67 



530 



CONTENTS. 



His Birth — Early Education — Admission into Yale Page, 

College, 38—40 

Remarks upon the Education of the Time, 41 

His Attainments — Anecdote — Completion of his Col- 
legiate Course, 42 

Commences the Study of Law in the Office of B. 

Crannel Esq. of Poughkeepsie, 43 

His amiable Character and Conduct while a Youth, 44 

His early Religious Impressions — Remarks upon them, 45~— 49 
An Account of his Conversion — Views of certain 

Doctrines — Remarks, , 50 — 56 

Description of his Religious Exercises, continued, 

with Remarks, 57 — 64 

State of his Health — A singular Deliverance related, 64 — 68 
Quits the Law — His Views and Exercises upon 

making choice of Theology, 68 — 73 

Remarks, 73 — 76 

Obtains his Father's consent to this change of his 
Professional Studies, and a promise of the neces- 
sary pecuniary assistance, 76 



CHAPTER III. 

The State of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America^ 
about the year 1765. 

A brief History of the Church from its rise, 76 — 84 

Extraordinary Influence of the Classis of Amsterdam — 

Case of Renslaer, 84 — 86 

The Plan of a Ccetus agreed upon, in 1737 — Names 
of the Ministers and Elders who agreed to the 

Plan — Notice of the Rev. Mr. Frelinghuysen, 86 — 87 

The Coetus constituted in 1747, 88 

The formation of a Classis proposed in 1753 — Rea- 
sons in favour of it — Proposal popular, 89 — 91 



CONTENTS, 



531 



Page. 

The Adherents ofthe Classis of Amsterdam alarmed, 91 
The Friends of an Independent Classis called Coztus, 

those opposed called Conferentie — -Effects of the 

Controversy — Remarks, . * 92 — 95 

Introduction of the English Language in the Church— 

Circumstances which led to it, • 96—100 

Controversy in the City of New-York on account of 

the Language—Consistory resolve to call an 

English Preacher, 100—102 

Rev. Archl. Laidlie called — A short Account of him 

—His Settlement, Popularity, and Usefulness, 103—107 
A civil Suit instituted against Consistory—Concluding 

Remarks,... , 107—109 



CHAPTER I¥, 

Circumstances relating to his Theological Studies, and to 
the Church of New-Yorh. 
The Influence which the present unhappy state of the 

Church had on Mr. Livingston, 110 — 112 

His own Statement ofthe Reasons which induced him 

to remain in the Church — Remarks,... 112 — 116 

The Manner in which he spent his Time in the Spring 

of 1765, 116 

His Sentiments upon the subject of the Theatre, . * 11 6 — -1 1 9 

First Interview with Dr. Laidlie...... .- 120 

Prepares to go to Holland — Assertion that he was 

aided by the Church of New- York contradicted, 

—Departure from New-York — And Arrival at 

Amsterdam,... , 121 — 123 

Attentions received upon his Arrival— Determines to 

pursue his Studies at Utrecht,. 124—126 

Tisits the Rev, Mr, Schorelenburgh, of Tienhoven, 126 



53# 



CONTENTS* 



Goes to Utrecht — Reception by Professor Bonnett, — Page. 
His Prudence in the choice of Companions, 126—128 

Visits again Mr. Schorelenburgh — Happy Conse- 
quences of this Visit, 129—130 

A further Account of the Suit instituted against the 

Consistory of New- York 131—140 

Determined in favour of Consistory — Abstracts of the 

Trial, 140—150 

Extracts from Letters of Dr. Laidlie, relative to this ' 

Trial, 148—154 

Concluding Remarks, 155 



CHAPTER V. 

From the Commencement of his studies in the University of 
Utrecht, till his Return to New-York. 

Introductory Observations, 156 — 160 

Mr. L. commences his Studies under several Profes- 
sors—Subjects of Study, 160—161 

His Manner of pursuing the Study of Theology, 162 

His Intimacy with some praying young Men — Pro- 
fessor Elsnerus, 1 63 — 1 64 

A Conflict in relation to the Doctrine of Divine Provi- 
dence — Remarks, 165 — 169 

Conversion of a Stranger under his pious conversation, 170 — 171 

Conversion of a Student of Law, 172 — 178 

The difference between a speculative and experimen- 
tal knowledge of the Truth, evinced in the case of a 

Dr. D 173—177 

An Account of an interesting Conference, 177 — 181 

An Account of the Administration of Baptism in a Bap- 
tist Church in Utrecht, 181—184 

Dr. Witherspoon's Visit — -Mr. Livingston's Attentions 

tO him, „,,„,«.(»,..«..• .MMIMHMMM 1 84 



CONTENTS. 



53** 



Measures in contemplation between them for the bene- Page, 
fit of the D. C. in America, 134—186 

The Ccetus Party attempt the erection of an Acade- 
my, but encounter difficulties,. 187 — 189 

An Extract from the Charter of Queen's College...... 188 — 190 

The appointment of a Divinity-Professor in King's 

College N.Y. desired by some of the Conference, 191 

A Connexion with Princeton College meditated — -Ex- 
tracts of Letters upon the subject — Remarks,... 192 — 197 

The Church of N. Y. think of calling another English 
Preacher — Mr. L. spoken of — Fears entertained 



as to the strength of his voice, &c 198 

His Aversion to the observance of the Holydays dis- 
covered — Extracts of Letters upon the subject 

addressed to him— -Remarks, 199 — 203 

A Call made out for him, and forwarded, ' 204 

Licensure, and promising character of his first public 

labours, 205—207 

Concludes to present himself a Candidate for the De* 

gree of Doctor of Divinity, 207 

His Examinations for this Degree, and Success...... 208 — 212 

A Call from a Church in Amsterdam declined, 209 

Embarkation for England — Arrival there — Interview 

with Dr. Kennicott, 212 — 213 

Arrival at New-York, , 214 



CHAPTER VI. 

From his Return to New-York, till the Close of the 
Revolutionary War. 

Arrives on a Sabbath Morning — Preaches the next 

Sabbath— Is duly received by the Church, 215—216 

Commences with zeal the discharge of Pastoral Duties, 

and is highly esteemed^. . r »... .##..••••»■ 216—219 



534 



Page, 

Endeavours to prepare the way for attempting a recon- 
ciliation of the Ccetus and Conference Parties, 219 — 223 

Proposes to his Consistory that they should invite, by 

letters, a general meeting of Ministers and Elders 223 — -224 

An Account of the Convention, its Proceedings and 



good Effects, 224 — 238 

Re-assembling of the Convention, and Consummation 

of the Union, in Oct. 1772, 238 

Remarks upon the part performed by Dr. L in this 

business,... 239 — 240 

Testimonies of the Respect entertained for him, 240 — 242 

Measures relative to the appointment of a Professor 

of Theology, 243—245 

Dr. L. recommended by the Classis of Amsterdam, 

and the Theological Faculty of Utrecht, 245 

Convention of 1775 makes no appointment, and sud- 
denly breaks up........ 246 

Notice of Philip Livingston, Esq 247 

Dr. L. marries Sarah, a daughter of Philip, and re- 
moves to Kingston, 249 — 251 

Invitation and removal to Albany, « 252 

Loss of his Journal, 253 

Removal to Livingston's Manor — Call from Albany 

— Removal to Poughkeepsie, 254 — 257 

A Letter to Dr. Westerlo, 257—265 

Return to New-York at the close of the War,. 266 



CHAPTER. VII. 

From the Resumption of his Pastoral Charge, at the close of the 
Revolutionary War, till the Adoption of the Constitution 
of the Church, in 1792, 

Introductory Remarks, . , = , 267—268 



CONTENTS. 



535 



Page. 

Old Church, in Garden Street, re-opened in Nov. — 

State of the Congregation— Dr. L. sole Pastor 268—270 
Extract of a Letter to Dr. Komeyn, on the subject of 



a State University, 270—271 

Extract on the subject o! Queen's College, 271—272 

Extract on the subject of the formation of a Classis in 

the Southern District, . . , 272 

Convenuon of 1784. elects Dr. L. Professor of The- 
ology — Appointment accepted, , 273 — 274 

Progress of Ecclesiastical Organization in the Dutch 

Church, 274 

Dr. Livingston's Inaugural Oration, 275 

His Epistolary Correspondence — Letters from Dr. 

Erskine,... 276—277 

Call of Rev. Mr. Yan Aarsdaalen to the Church in 

N. Y. — Extracts from the Call,. 278—280 

The first attempt to establish a Correspondence be- 
tween the Dutch, Pre-byterian, and Associate 

Reformed Churches, 280—282 

Union College — Letter to Dr. Romeyn on the subject, 2S2 — 2S3 
Act of the Legislature relative to the Election of Trws- 
tees in Congregations — Practice of the Dutch 



Church — Dr. L.'< efforts to prev nt an interference 
with that practice — Letter to Dr. Romeyn on 

the subject — Success of his efforts,. 284 — 287 

Impaired state of his Health, 287 

Labours in the Congregation, and the blessing that at- 
tended them, 288 

Removal out of the City for the benefit of his health, 289 
Call of Dr. Romeyn to N. Y. — Letters to him in 

reference to it, 289—292 

Call of Rev William Linn — Dr. L.'s favourable opinion 

of him — Letters to Di . Romeyn, .•.•••,..,#»••.•• 292 — 294 



536 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Call of Rev. Gerardus A. Kuypers ....*.....•,.., 294 

Attention to Students of Theology — Examination of 

Candidates, 295 

Address of the Classical Letter from Amsterdam, no- 
ticed by Dr. L., 296—297 

Dr. L. Chairman of a Committee to make a Selection 
of Psalms — Extracts of Letters to Dr. Romeyn 

touching the Selection, 297—300 

Letter to Dr Hardenburgh— Character of Dr. H 301 — 306 

Letter to Mrs. Judge Livingston . 306 — 309 

Rev. Dr. Westerlo— Rev. Dr. H. Meyer, 310—311 

Dr. L one of a Committee to prepare the Constitution 

of the Church, 311 

Letters in relation to the Work— Adoption of the 

Constitution, 312—318 

Concluding Remarks, 320 



CHAPTER VIII. 

From the Adoption of the Constitution of the Church, till his 
Acceptance oj the Call Jrom New- Brunswick. 
The Constitution published under the inspection of 



Dr. Livingston, 321—323 

Dr. Livingston's Communication to Dr. Linn, relative 

to a proposed Union between Brunswick and 

Princeton Colleges, 323—332 

His affectionate Conduct in his Family, 332 — 333 

Intimacy with Drs. Mason, Rodgers, and Kunzie — 

Character of each of these Divines, 333 — 336 

Attentions to Youth — Letters of Lindley and John 

Murray, 336—339 

Feeble state of his Health — Increase of his Pastoral 

Labours — Concern for his Students,,,..,,.,..,., 340 — 342 



CONTEXTS. 



537 



Pleasures of Synod, to enable him to be more devoted Page, 
to Professoral Duties — Report of a Committee, 342 — 347 

In compliance with the request of Synod, prepares to 

remove to Long Island, 347 

Rev. Mr. Abeel, called to the C hurch of New-York, 34S 

Loss and Inconvenience to which his Removal sub- 
jected him, 348 

Favourable Prospects of the School — Discourage- 
ments, 349 

Extracts from two Letters to Dr. Romeyn........... 350 — 356 

Act of Synod retracting the promise of their support- 
Appointment of Dr. T. Romeyn, and Rev. S. 
Frceligh, additional Professors of Theology, 357 — 358 

His Return to New-York, and Christian Behaviour 

under these Measures of Synod, 359 

His Friendship for Dr. R. Three Letters, 360—368 

Character of Dr. Romeyn, 366—367 

Plan of the Professorate again altered — Dr. Livingston 

chosen permanent Professor, 369 

Rev. John Basset, and Rev. Jeremiah Romeyn, ap- 
pointed Professors of the Hebrew Language,.... 369 

Connexion of Dr. Linn with the Church in New- York, 
dissolved — His Letter to Dr. Livingston — 
Character of Dr. Linn — Letter of Dr. Livingston 
upon being informed of his Death, 370 — 373 

Ministerial Labours of Dr. Livingston, upon the retire- 
ment of Dr. Linn, 373—374 

Zeal in promoting Missionary Operations — Missionary 

Sermons, 374—375 

Revival of Queen's College — Covenant between the 

Synod and Trustees,.... 375—376 

Liberal Subscriptions in behalf of the Object now 

contemplated, , r 377 

Dr. Livingston called to the Professorship of Theology 
in the Institution, and to the Presidency of the 
same — Experiences an alarming increase of In- 
firmities,,, ,,,,,, ••I.IMMM.MMM. 377 

68 



538 



CONTENTS. 



Consistory excuse him from a part of his usual Ser- Page. 

vices, 378 

Rev. John Schureman, and Rev. Jacob Brodhead, 

called to the Church of New-York 379 

CHAPTER IX. 
From his Removal to New-Brunsivick, until his Death and Burial. 

Introductory Remarks, 380—382 

Trustees of Queen's College make another Call upon 

Dr. L 383 

Letter to his Consistory, communicating his intention 

to remove.— -Dr. John N. Abeel, 383—388 

Answer of the Consistory, 388—391 

Removal and Reception at New-Brunswick — Pur- 
chases a House — Extracts of Letters, 391 — 394 

Commences the discharge of his Duties as President 

and Professor — State and Prospects of the School 394 — 396 

Publishes a Work, entitled "A Funeral Service" — 

Resolution of Synod — Remarks. 396 — 397 

Appointed to make a new Selection of Psalms and 

Hymns— Selection approved— Letter to I. L. Kip, 397 — 400 

Death of Dr. Condict, Vice-President of the College, 

and of two promising Youths, 401 

Extract from Dr. L's Commencement Address, 402 — 404 

Rev. Mr. Schureman succeeds Dr. Condict — De- 
pressed State of the College — Rev. Mr. Van 
Harlingen, 405 

Attempt made to bring the School back to N. Y. — 

Two Letters to I. L. Kip, 406 — 411 

Death of Mrs. Livingston— Letters relative to the 

Event, 412 — 418 

Plan to convert Queen's College into a Theological 

College — Letter to Dr. J. B. Romeyn 418 — 420 

Letter of Dr. R. when in Holland to Dr. L,.. e 421—423 



Synod adopt the Plan of Dr. L. — Report of a Commit- 
tee; i tieilt!li«iltll«ll(ltHMMMMc>l(t«l«IMltt( 423-*— 426 



CONTENTS. 



589 



Dr. Schuieman chosen Professor of Pastoral Theo- Page. 

logy— Character of Dr. Schureman, 426—428 

Testimony of Respect for Dr. L. from some Gentle- 
men in Albany, 429 

Trustees of Queen's College accede to the Plan of the 
Theological College — The inadequacy of the 

Funds prevents its accomplishment, 429 — 430 

Dr. L.'s Dissertation on the Marriage of a Man with 

his Sister-in-Law, 431 

The Establishment of two Schools contemplated — 

Letters to I. L. Kip. 431—437 

Resolutions of Synod upon the subject — Rev. E. 

Van Bunschooten,.. j.. 437 

Extracts of Letters upon the subject, 438 — 441 

Question relative to a Removal of the School put at 

rest — Extracts of Letters — Remarks, . 441 — 444 

Rev. Thos. DeWitt elected to succeed Dr. Schurema^ 
Declines the appointment — Rev. Mr. Cannon and 
Mr. Mabon, appointed temporary Instructers,... 444 
Dr. L. again afflicted in the Death of two Ganddaugh- 

ters — Letters — Remarks, 445 — 449 

The Board of Superintendents express their 
opinions of his services — and request the publication 

of his Lectures, 449 — 450 

Rev. John Ludlow chosen Professor of Biblical Lite- 
rature, &c. — Succeeded by the Rev. John Dewitt, 450 
Dr. L. suggests the raising of an ample Fund for the 

support of the School — Letter, 450 — 453 

The measure adopted by Synod, and successful — Re- 
marks , 453 — 455 

Rutger's College— Sketch of the Life of Dr. S- S. 

Woodhull, 455— -45S 

Dr. L, connected with several Benevolent Societies, 
Letter relative to the Dutch Missionary Society— 
Rev. P. N. Strong,. ..,..•«•., ,„......,. ».»,..«» 456— 460 



540 



CONTENTS'* 



Dr. L's Letter upon the subject of Colonising Con- Page, 
verted Jews,. 461 

Extracts of Letters, and a Memorandum indicative of a 

highly devotional frame of spirit, 461 — 464 

Extract from the Report of the Board of Superinten- 
dents, 464 

State of his Health — Extracts of Letters — Letters to 

his Son, \ 465—471 

Unusual Strength and Cheerfulness manifested the 

Day before his Death, 471 

His Death— Remarks, 471—473 

His Funeral — Funeral Sermons — Resolutions of 

Synod, 473—476 

CHAPTER. X. 
i His General Character, 

Introductory Remarks, 477— 479 

His Person described, 479 — 480 

His Infirmities, and a General View of his Excellencies 480—488 
Some prominent traits of his Character particularly 

noticed — His Discretion, 488 — 490 

His Attachment to Evangelical Truth, and manner of 
preaching and teaching the Doctrines of the Gos- 
pel, ^( -496 

The Tenderness of his Deportment towards young 

Persons, 496—498 

The uniformly elevated state of his devotional feelings 

— Anecdotes, &c. in illustration, 498 — 503 

Rev. Mr. Forrest's Letter on his General character, 504 
Rev. Dr. Green's do. do. 505—506 

Rev. Dr. Janeway's do. do. 506 — 511 

Rev. Dr. Miller's do. do. 511—526 

Conclusion of the Memoir... ......... ■••••»•»•« 528 



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